Adonis annua

Autumn Adonis (Adonis annua)

The Autumn Adonis (Adonis annua, Syn Adonis autumnalis L., Adonis phoenicea Bercht. & J.Presl ) is a plant of the family Ranunculaceae ( Ranunculaceae ).

In addition, the following designations are, or were, some of them only regionally, use: drop of blood (Mark), Düwelsooge ( Lower Weser ) and Shabab ( Lucerne).

Description

The Autumn Adonis is an annual plant. The stems are branched and can reach a height of 30 to 40 cm. The change-constant leaves are slightly divided.

It flowers in summer, from June to September. The shiny red flowers reach a diameter of about 2.5 cm. They carry five to eight petals, which are repulsed and fall soon. Its center is black.

Ingredients

The plant contains 0.1 % to 0.7 % cardenolides, especially Adonitoxin and cymarin. The content of glycosides during the flowering period is highest.

Dissemination

The Adonis comes from southern Europe and southwestern Asia. It has been introduced by contaminated seed already in the Neolithic period in Northern Europe ( so-called Speirochorie ) and was to be found until the end of the 19th century, especially in cereal fields on calcareous soils often. With the improvement of the seed cleaner Autumn Adonis is rarely found on cereal boxes. Therefore the plant formerly regarded as weed is placed under protection today in the UK.