Western Pasque Flower

Family Name: Ranunculaceae

Buttercup Family

Latin Name: Anemone occidentalis S. Watson

(Also Known As): Pulsatilla occidentalis (S. Wats.) Freyn (7)

Common Names: Western pasque flower, tow-headed baby, moptop, old man in the mountain, mountain pasque flower, windflower

Related Species: A. patens, A. pulsatilla (synonym: Pulsatilla vulgaris), A. multifida, A. narcissiflora, A. cylindrica, A. hirsutissima, A. tuberosa, P. patens, P. nigricans

Body System Affiliations:

1. Nervous System

Botanical Description:

Habit: Herb – Perennial

Size: 10 to 30 cm tall at flowering, elongating to 30 to 60 cm tall in fruit (1:173)

Leaves: Downy and silverish; basal, tufted leaves are long-stalked and 2 to 3 times divided into narrow segments; stem leaves more or less stalkless (1:173)

Flowers: Solitary, cream-colored often with blue tinge on the outside, cup shaped and rose-like, average 6 petal-like sepals; 4-7 cm across inflorescence, flowers as soon as snow melts and before leaves expand (1:173, 2:257)

Fruit: Hairy achenes with vary long, dropping, wavy, feathery-hairy styles; numerous on a cylindrical receptacle forming a large, showy head; big, plumy and yellow-green; shaped like an upturned mop head covered (hence the common names ‘mophead’ and ‘towhead’) with hundreds of tasseled seeds, seeds use wind dispersal (1:173)

Underground Parts: Taproot (1:173)

Personal Observation and Description:

I first identified this plant in flower (Spring, 2009) on Mount Rainier and was in awe of its finely divided leaves and fuzzy stem. The petals were so white that it was dreamy looking, highlighted with so many yellow stamen; a beautifully showy bloom! Later that year during the late summer I found this plant in seed and hardly recognized it. Most seeding plants are not so flamboyant about it. They looked like hairy little heads on a stalk; I was delighted as I re-familiarized myself with the fuzzy stem and delicately divided leaves.

Ecology:

Habitat: Sub-alpine and alpine meadows and rocky slopes; high coniferous forests up to and above the timberline (1:173)

Range: California to BC in the coastal ranges, Alberta, in the high country of Idaho and Western Montana

Native Where: PNW

Personal Observation of Locations Observed, Dates and Description of Plants: Observed in Spring of 2009 at the Twin Firs trailhead on Mount Rainier alongside a lush collection of bunch berry

Western (European-American) Uses/Relationships:

Food: Not edible

Materials/Technology: None found

Medicine:

Part Used: Fresh seeding stems (2:257)

Medicinal Actions: Antidepressant, sedative (2:257)

Indications: Insomnia, nervousness, general agitated state of mind (2:257)

Body System Associations: Nervous System

Constituents: Anemonin, protoanemonine, ‘anemone camphor’ (2:257) glycosides, saponins, tannins, resin and when dried the glycoside and ranunculin convert to anemonin (4)

Applications: Tincture, infusion, decoction (2:257)

Preparation: Prepare standard tincture of fresh material in a well ventilated area; when cut, plant emits a strong, acrid, aromatic gas; 1:2 herb to alcohol (2:257); To prepare infusion, pour one cup boiling water onto 1/2 to 1 tsp dried herb and infuse for 10-15 minutes (4)

Pharmacy: 5-15 drops of tincture every 2 or 3 hours (2:257); drink infusion up to three times per day (4)

Other: Tincture is stable for years but dry herb is feeble; keep in cool, shady spot (2:257)

Cautions: Poisonous, do not use when pregnant or with bradycardia; do not use in large quantities; large dose can cause nausea, salivation and dizziness (2:257)

Propagation:

Technique: Seed: Requires an after-ripening period so dry store for 6 months prior to stratification. Set in cold frame, requires full sun (9)

Timing: Seed: Sown in late fall; germination takes about a month under fluctuating outdoor temperatures (9)

Root Cutting: Performed in early winter, though can be done in July/August and placed vertically in pots in greenhouse or frame (9)

Harvest:

Plant Part: Seeding stems (2:257)

Season of Harvest: Late July when seeds are ready to pop (2:257)

Method of Harvest: Cut stalks near base and hang to dry (2:257)

Ecological Considerations of Harvest: Plant is more potent in spring when in bloom but letting it seed and then leaving the ‘mop-top’ with some stem propped up will allow the plant to propagate itself (2:258).

Cautions: Fresh plant can cause irritation when handled directly, ingestion of fresh plant could irritate stomach as well causing nausea. The chemical irritants are dispersed through heat (such as via a decoction) or by drying the plant (2:259)

Plant Part: Aerial parts (2:257)

Season of Harvest: Early to mid spring when in flower (2:257)

Method of Harvest: Cut stalks near base and hang to dry (2:257)

Ecological Considerations of Harvest: Plant is more potent in spring when in bloom but letting it seed and then leaving the ‘mop-top’ with some stem propped up will allow the plant to propagate itself (2:258).

Cautions: Fresh plant can cause irritation when handled directly, ingestion of fresh plant could irritate stomach as well causing nausea. The chemical irritants are dispersed through heat (such as via a decoction) or by drying the plant (2:259)

Other Notes of Interest: Anemone comes from the Greek word for wind (anemos), root of ‘windflower’ (1:173, 6). Anemone flower essence treats emotionally changeable people, as though blown about by the wind. It supports inner strength and stability, and allows clarity for authentic emotional expression (12:68). Anemone is featured twice in Greek mythology. When the goddess Venus wept over the body of Adonis, anemone flowers were said to spring from the ground where her tears fell. In another story, Anemone was once a beautiful nymph, and loved by Zephyr, the god of the west wind. Flora, Zephyr’s wife, was not particularly excited by his infatuation, and consequently transformed her into the flower we know today. She then gave the flower Anemone to Boreas, the god of the northern winds, whom she loves and blossoms for today (12:67).

Cautions: Best if used with experienced supervision; many plants in this family are considered toxic; unless using topically, plant parts should be dried or cooked before using; do not use during pregnancy; do not use with bradycardia; do not use in large quantities (2:259)

***

References Cited:

1. Mackinnon, Andy, and Jim Pojar. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Vancouver, British Columbia: Ministry of Forests and Lone Pine Publishing, 1994.

2. Moore, Michael. Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West. Santa Fe, NM: Red Crane Books, 1993.

3. Moerman, Dan. Native American Ethnobotany (University of Michigan - Dearborn). Online at http://herb.umd.umich.edu. Accessed: 2-13-2010.

4. Hoffmann, David. The Complete Illustrated Holistic Herbal. Rockport, Massachusetts: Element Books, 1996.

5. Buhner, Stephen Harrod. Sacred Plant Medicine. Boulder, Colorado: Roberts Rinehart Publishers, 1996.

6. Moore, Michael. Southwest School of Botanical Medicine Website. Online at http://www.swsbm.com/FOLIOS/PulsFol.pdf. Visited 2-13-2010.

7. Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture (2006). Online at http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection.php. Visited 2-14-2010.

8. United States Departments of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Plants Database. Online at http://plants.usda.gov. Accessed 2-14-2010.

9. Native Plants Journal Propagation Protocol Database. Online at http://www.nativeplantnetwork.org. Accessed 2-14-2010.

10. Hoffman, David. The New Holistic Herbal. Boston, Massachusetts: Element Books Inc., 1990.

11. Buhner, Stephen Harrod. Sacred Plants Medicine. Boulder, Colorado: Roberts Rinehart Publishers, 1996.

12. McIntyre, Anne. Flower Power. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company, Inc., 1996.

13. Gunther, Erna. Ethnobotany of Western Washington. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press, 1990.