Image of Adonis annua var. cupaniana (Guss.) W. T. Wang

Description:

Slo.: jesenki zajji mak - syn.: Adonis autumnalis L., Adonis phoenicea Bercht. & Presl. - Habitat: edge of a grain field, flat terrain, calcareous ground; open, sunny, dry place; exposed to direct rain, average precipitations ~ 1.100 mm/year, average temperature 10 - 12 deg C, elevation 80 m (260 feet), submediterranean phytogeographical region. - Substratum: arable soil. - Comment: Adonis annua is a Mediterranean poisonous weed plant of arable land, which has spread outside its 'original' region long time ago (archaeophyte, a plant introduced before Columbus time). It was once a very widespread and common plant. However, since late ninetieth century it underwent a drastically decline everywhere, also in Slovenia. Only a limited number of small populations, mainly restricted to field edges, remained. The same destinies shear also its 'brothers' Adonis flammea and Adonis aestivalis (both are on our Red list) while Adonis microcarpa is considered already extinct. The reasons for that are several. Changes in agricultural techniques used, particularly improved seed cleaning methods, seem to be the most important. The plant has very large seeds, so they are easily and thoroughly removed from cereal grains every year. Increased use of agrochemicals and the density of modern crops and possibly also climate changes may also contribute to gradual disappearing of this plant. - Its Latin name is said to remember the Adonis who was killed by a wild boar. Adonis plants supposedly sprang up from the ground where his blood drops fell. Its common name refers to pheasants eyes, which are red. - Ref.: (1) A.Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije, Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007) (in Slovene), p 125. (2) http://www.brc.ac.uk/plantatlas/index.php?q=plant/adonis-annua (3) http://www.cbnbrest.fr/site/pdf/Adonis_annua.pdf