System of the genus Pulsatilla Mill. (Ranunculaceae)

The genus Pulsatilla (Pasqueflower) is a taxonomically complex object of study. Previous works on the creation of the genus system were based mainly on either the morphology of basal and cauline leaves or on genetic data. In our study, the system of pasqueflowers was revised taking into account an additional set of data, including palynological, morphological, molecular-genetic and some biological characteristics. For this purpose, the morphology of peduncles, fruits, basal and whorled leaves was described, details of the pollen grain surface were studied and genetic data for some species were supplemented. The most significant features in the revision of the genus system were the morphology of pollen grains, whorled leaves, androecium: the presence or absence of staminodes and the color of the anthers. According to the results obtained, we proposed to consider the genus Pulsatilla consisting of 5 subgenera. We have accepted the subgenera Kostyczewianae and Preonanthus in their traditional volume. From the subgenus Pulsatilla we have separated two more subgenera – Bungeanae, Albanae, and new sections were also identified: Magadanenses, Tenuilobeae.