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Pheasant's Eye |
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| Nomenclature |
Species name: |
Adonis microcarpa DC |
Author(s): |
Augustin Pyramus de Candolle;
Switzerland/France - 1778-1841
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Synonyms: |
Adonis annua ssp. carinata, Adonis dentata, Adonis intermedia |
Common names: |
Pheasant's Eye, Small-fruited Pheasant's Eye, Red Chamomille |
Maltese names: |
Għajn is-Serduq, Għallet is-Serduq |
Plant Family: |
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Status: |
Native |
Name Derivation: | Adonis = According to Greek mythology, the flower is supposed to have sprung from the blood of Adonis who was gored to death by a wild boar. He was beloved of Aphrodite and by some accounts was unsuccessfully wooed by her. Adonis was regarded by the Greeks as the god of plants. It was believed that he disappeared into the earth in autumn and winter only to reappear in spring and summer. To celebrate his return, the Greeks adopted the Semitic custom of making Adonis gardens, consisting of clay pots of quickly growing seeds. Further Info: [1] [2]. (Greek origin)
microcarpa = literally meaning 'tiny fruit', referring to the very small fruit of this species in comparison to the fruit of other species of Adonis. (Greek origin) |
Remarks: |
-
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| Specifications & Description |
Life Cycle: | Annual |
Habitat: | Found mainly near fields. Also in soil-rich pockets on wasteground or even garigue. |
Frequency: | Scarce |
Localities in Malta: | Location remains undisclosed so as to protect this rare plant which during these last few decades has been continuously decreasing. |
Plant Height: | Up to 10cm. |
| Jan - May |
Poison: | Data not available |
A
small,
erect,
herbaceous
plant
which
up
to
half
of
the
20th
century
was
quite
common
in
Malta,
but
then
it
has
been
decreasing
rapidly
that
now
it
become
a
rare
plant.
The
glabrous
stem
has
4
angles
and
relatively
thick
for
a
short
plant
which
is
usually
around
10-20cm
but
described
to
reach
a
height
of
up
to
40cm
Leaves
are
bright
green
and
pinnatisect
with
numerous
linear
segments,
each
ending
with
a
bristle-like
or
pointed
tip.
The
solitary
flowers
are
conspicuous
due
to
their
deep
red
or
sometimes
brown
colour.
Some
descriptions
states
that
the
flower
colour
is
orange-yellow.
It
consist
of
a
variable
number
of
petal-like
sepals
(but
usually
5
are
found)
which
have
a
reddish-brown
colour,
have
an
acute
tip
and
are
found
at
the
base
of
the
corolla.
Above
is
then
a
set
of
5-8,
petals,
polished
vivid-red,
with
a
round
obtuse
tip,
each
about
6mm
long.
They
overlap
and
are
can
assume
a
sub-erect
position
hence
collectively
forming
a
cup-shaped
flower.
No
nectaries
are
found
in
this
Ranunculaceae
species.
The
female
reproductive
organs
consist
of
1
to
2
dozen
of
achenes
sitting
packed
together
on
a
convex
receptacle
at
the
centre
of
the
corolla.
The
male
organs
are
composed
of
a
ring
of
short-filament
stamens
that
emerge
and
encircle
the
base
of
the
receptacle.
The
anthers
are
maroon
to
purple
in
colour
and
produce
bright
yellow
pollen.
After
fertilisation,
stamens,
petals
and
sepals
fall
down,
leaving
a
head
of
a
cluster
of
green
achenes
(fruit)
which
grow
up
to
3-4mm
each,
which
is
small
compared
to
other
Adonis
spp.
and
hence
the
name
microcarpa.
Achenes
are
ovoid
with
a
tapering
and
somehow
darker,
curved
tip
referred
to
as
the
beak.
Just
behind
the
beak
there
is
a
small
gibbosity
(hump)
which
is
an
important
characteristic
to
distinguish
this
species
from
other
similar
Adonis
spp.
When
ripe,
these
single-seeded
fruits
fall
to
the
ground
without
special
dispersal
mechanism.
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