3. Pulsatilla montana (Hoppe) Rchb. (Reichenbach 1832: 733)

Anemone montana Hoppe ex Sturm (Hoppe 1826: pl. 4)

Anemone pratensis subsp. montana (Hoppe) Hayek (Hayek 1924: 321)

Description

Pulsatilla montana is a perennial hemicryptophyte characterised by its deeply dissected basal leaves and solitary, nodding, bell-shaped flowers, which are typically dark purple to bluish-purple. The entire plant is densely covered with soft hairs, especially in the early phenological stages. It is one of the earliest flowering Pulsatilla species in Europe (Jäger et al. 2017), with anthesis taking place from March to April.

Distribution and habitat

The species typically inhabits open, dry, calcareous to gravelly grasslands and sparse pine or oak forests, often on south-facing slopes (Nikolić 2020). In Kosovo, P. montana is represented by two subspecies: P. montana subsp. balkana and P. montana subsp. jankae .