Species name :

Adonis microcarpaDC
Published in Reg. Veg. Syst. Nat. 1: 223 (1817)

Synonyms :
(basionym or principal syn.)

Adonis aestivalis Link ex Webb & Berthel.

Full list of synonyms : [Euro+Med] [PlantList] [IPNI] [POWO] [Catalogue of Life] [Worldplants.de]

Plant Family :

Ranunculaceae Juss. (The Buttercup Family)
23 species from the Ranunculaceae family are recorded from the Maltese Islands.

English name(s) :

Pheasant's Eye, Small-Fruited Pheasant's Eye, Red Chamomille

Maltese name(s) :

Għajn is-Serduq, Għallet is-Serduq

Status for Malta :

Indigenous. Present on the Maltese islands before man

Frequency :

Very Common     Common    Frequent     Scarce     Rare    Very rare    Extinct

Growth form :

Raunkiaer lifeform [info]: THEROPHYTE ( annual plants, herbaceous )
Germination [info]: Dicotyledon

Legal Protection :

Protected by law: Schedule VIII of [S.L. 549.44] (Exploitation subject to management measures)

Red List (1989) :

Not listed in the Red Data Book of the Maltese Islands

Flowering Time :

March – May

Colour of Flowers:

Red or Orange

Toxicity:

Mildy toxic, can cause adverse conditions if consumed in large quantities

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. (Greek origin ); 2 = Further Info: [1] [2].

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 );

Planting in rural areas :

Can be planted in rural areas according to ERA Guidelines