Pulsatilla

[LucS]

The first pulsatilla showing some colour : Pulsatilla chinensis vulgaris

[McDonough]

The first pulsatilla showing some colour : Pulsatilla chinensis

This species is an interesting challenge, most difficult to find any images of the true species.  In China it is used extensively in herbal medicine, so googling will reveal mostly herbal web sites where they'll throw in a photo of most any Pulsatilla or Anemone species.  What makes this species distinctive is the broad and less divided foliage, typically just trifoliate and possibly with some smaller leaf divisions, unlike the much more dissected leaves of species like P. vulgaris.  It seems that in cultivation, much of what is labeled as P. chinensis is misidentified, with P. vulgaris the usual result.

However, I did find a few photos of true P. chinensis, which shows the distinctive broad modestly divided foliage.

Pulsatilla chinensis in Flora of China:
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200008054
...illustration (right hand side, items 1-4), notice broad 3-lobed leaves, prominent involucral bracts (not particularly fuzzy with hairs), flowers erect before anthesis, the erect flower disposition separating it from the closely allied P. cernua with nodding buds.
http://www.efloras.org/object_page.aspx?object_id=39968&flora_id=2

Pulsatilla chinensis photo:
http://www.99.com.cn/uploads/090630/1_213954_1.jpg

foliage on a young plant:
http://stewartia.net/engei/field_plant/Kinpouge_ka/Pulsatilla%20chinensis.jpg

This one was labeled as P. chinensis, but might actually be P. cernua based on the leaflet lobes more deeply divided, and semi-nodding buds, but otherwise close to P. chinensis:
http://plant.cqla.cn/06/MG11A_baitouweng002.JPG

Luc, if I were to venture a guess, I'd guess that you have a lovely form of P. vulgaris, a beautiful garden plant in its own right.

[Hoy]

The leaves of P chinensis is more like the leaves of P vernalis than any other species I have seen!


         

[McDonough]

The leaves of P chinensis is more like the leaves of P vernalis than any other species I have seen!

Based on your photo Trond, true enough.  In your photo of P. vernalis, I see the involucral bracts are very dissected and super fuzzy; what stands our for me on P. chinensis (and P. cernua too), is the mostly entire bract segments that are mildly pilose and without the usual puff of fuzz, which gives it a distinct look (although we all love the fluffy puffs on many Pulsatilla species).

[LucS]

Luc, if I were to venture a guess, I'd guess that you have a lovely form of P. vulgaris, a beautiful garden plant in its own right.

Mark, you could be very right. The foliage of the plant on the photo is indeed very different from what I see here. I'll edit the posting.
Thanks for your time.

[LucS]

This one has the right ID : Pulsatilla slavica

[McDonough]

This one has the right ID : Pulsatilla slavica

HOLY MOLY Luc, that is simply drop-dead gorgeous... an explosion of fluffiness!

[Hoy]

Very well, LucS, the last one is overwhelming! - and I don't worry at all about the name

[Peter George]

Astounding!! What are your secrets?

[LucS]

Wish I knew the secrets myself. Didn't do a thing to encourage it.

[LucS]

One more in flower today : Pulsatilla Budapest seedstrain

[McDonough]

Glorious shade of light blue, my favorite color.  How true does "Budapest seedstrain" come from seed, and if one has lots of various color Pulsatilla vulgaris plants nearby, will the strain degenerate into something other than what is qualified as the "Budapest seedstrain".  I have seen photos of this seed strain labeled as "Budapest" and they have always appeared as superior ethereal blue-flowered forms.

[Todd Boland]

Those pale lilac-blues are stunning!

[mark smyth]

I'll kick off my NARGS forum membership by showing my P. albana lutea

[Lori S.]

Wow, it's stunning, Mark!  Welcome to the forum.  It's great to see you here!