Appearance
It is an annual herb that grows up to 0.1m 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.
Naming
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, "aestivalis", is derived from Latin and means "pertaining to the summer".Subspecies include:⤷ "Adonis aestivalis" ssp. aestivalis
⤷ "Adonis aestivalis" ssp. "marginata"
⤷ "Adonis aestivalis" ssp. "parviflora"
⤷ "Adonis aestivalis" ssp. "squarrosa"
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.
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