''Adonis aestivalis'', the summer pheasant's-eye, is a

medicinal Medicine is the science and practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care practic ...

and

ornamental plant Ornamental plants or garden plants are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars that i ...

. It is native to Europe and Asia but has been introduced elsewhere, such as the western and eastern parts of the United States, as an ornamental plant. In particular, it has been known to invade alfalfa fields, contaminating feed used for horse hay. It is a member of the buttercup family. It is an annual herb.

Etymology

The genus name, ''Adonis'', comes from a tale in Greek mythology. Aphrodite is said to have turned her lover, Adonis, into a plant with red flowers after his death. The

specific epithet In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

, ''aestivalis'', is derived from

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

and means "pertaining to the summer".

Description

It is an annual herb that grows up to 0.1m (roughly 3 feet) tall. The stems are erect with simple, pinnately-dissected, alternate leaves and a small, terminal flower. The flowers are perfectThe radially symmetrical flowers are an orange to red colour, and each petal has a black splotch at its base. Its petals curl to form a cup-like shape. The fruit is an achene. A single flower can produce 50 to 100 seeds.

Uses

Medicinal Uses

''A. aestivalis'' has been used in European folk medicine to treat weak hearts by stimulating cardiac activity. The plant is dried out and combined with some water to form a tonic. It can be toxic at large doses, causing paralysis of the heart muscles. It is also used to treat coughs and spasms and as a diuretic and sleeping aid. It has also been used in Iran to treat rheumatism and heart disease. It is used in the homeopathic community as a remedy for heart and kidney diseases.

Fish feed

The flowers contain a pigment called astaxanthin, which gives the plant its blood-red colour. The pigment may extracted from the flower and added to fish feed. This results in an accumulation of the red pigment in the flesh and skin of the fish, giving it a reddish colour that is palatable to consumers. However, if the entire flower is used, as opposed to just the extract, mortality may occur due to the toxic compounds present. The exact toxic mechanisms have yet to be studied.

Toxicity

In humans

Toxicity in humans is rarely reported or studied. Toxicosis is rare in humans because it is unlikely to accumulate in the body, further, ''A. aestivalis'' contains lower levels of cardiac glycosides than other members of the ''Adonis'' genus, so toxicosis is very unlikely to occur as a result of consumption. Toxicity may result in gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. In extreme cases, this plant can excite nerves in the heart and increase arterial tension, later resulting in paralysis of the heart muscles and, consequently, death may occur.

In livestock

Typically, ''A. aestivalis'' is not consumed by livestock as it is unpalatable and feed contaminated with the plant is usually refused. Toxicity results in gastrointestinal symptoms, cardiac arrhythmias, and death. However, poisoning of livestock may be more common as it contaminates the fields harvested for hay and other animal feed. Though cases are rare, toxicity has been reported in various livestock. A study examining horses after eating contaminated hay showed that the horses exhibited varying symptoms, ranging frrom gastrointestinal symptoms, lethargy, dehydration, and muscle tremors. However, most of the horses refused to eat the hay and did not suffer symptoms of ''A. aestivalis'' toxicity. In a small. acute-toxicity study with ewes, no clinical signs or life-threatening symptoms were observed but the long-term effects are unclear. Similarly, a small, acute-toxicity study with calves did not show life threatening symptoms but minor cardiac abnormalities and gastrointestinal issues were observed.

Toxicology

Like other members of the ''Adonis'' genus, this species contains cardenolides, a class of cardiac glycosides. Cardiac glycosides are used to treat various heart diseases.

Subspecies

Subspecies include: * ''Adonis aestivalis'' ssp. aestivalis * ''Adonis aestivalis'' ssp. ''marginata'' * ''Adonis aestivalis'' ssp. ''parviflora'' * ''Adonis aestivalis'' ssp. ''squarrosa''

References

External links

Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture: ''Adonis aestivalis''

Plants for a Future: ''Adonis aestivalis''

Jepson Manual Treatment
{{Taxonbar, from=Q148926 Aestivalis Flora of Europe Flora of Western Asia Flora of Palestine (region) Medicinal plants of Europe