This plant has been widely known by several different scientific names: Pulsatilla hirsutissima, Pulsatilla ludoviciana, Pulsatilla patens, Anemone patens, etc.   William Weber calls the plant Pulsatilla ludoviciana, a name given by Heller in 1900 as a modification of Anemone ludoviciana given by Nuttall in 1818.  But the Flora of North America indicates that the name "Pulsatilla ludoviciana" has been ruled illegitimate.  FNA accepts the name Anemone patens given in 1841 by George Pritzel.  John Kartesz's Synthesis of the Flora of North America (the ultimate authority for plant names on this web site) accepts Pulsatilla patens, a name given by Phillip Miller in the mid-1700s as a modification of the name, "Anemone patens", given in 1753 by Linnaeus.  Miller named the Pulsatilla genus in the mid-1700s about the same time Linnaeus named the Anemone genus.

"Pulsatilla" is from the Latin for "pulsing" or "beating", perhaps alluding to the blood of the sacrificial lambs of Passover.  "Pasque" is from the Hebrew "paschal", "relating to Passover".  The Pasqueflower begins blooming as soon as the mountain snow melts, about the time of Passover.  It is also possible that the word is derived from the French "passer" + "fleur".  The meaning would, however, then be undetermined.

"Ludoviciana" means "from Louisiana" -- in this case (as in most), from the Louisiana Territory, not from the state of Louisiana.  "Patens" is Latin for "spreading, open" and may refer to the plant's habit of spreading over large areas and/or to the widely spreading petals or seed head.  And finally, "Anemone" is from the Greek for "wind". 

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Foothills to subalpine. Woodlands, openings.  Spring.
Haviland Lake, April 31, 2008.

Pasqueflower is not common in the Four Corners area, occurring only in the Abajos of Utah and the foothills and mountains of La Plata County, Colorado.  It is also found through the Rocky Mountains and eastward from the Rockies across the northern tier of states to northern Illinois.  Another species, Pulsatilla occidentalis, is found in the mountains of the Pacific coast states.

Pulsatilla is a lovely, very early blooming wildflower well worth searching for.  Flowers emerge before the finely cut leaves and often last for many days as the entire plant develops.  Plants often occur in large colonies.  Your early spring search for Pulsatilla will probably get you wet and mucky feet, for Pulsatilla is found in the moist of snow melt.  In the summer, these areas are often dry, open, and rocky in the low to high montane forests and meadows. 

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Foothills to subalpine. Woodlands, openings.  Spring.
Haviland Lake, April 31, 2008.

Pulsatilla ludoviciana is a lovely work of art from the barely observable bud to the fully opened flower.  Each phase is surrounded by fine leaves which gradually unfold and subtend the flower.

Foothills to subalpine. Woodlands, openings.  Spring.
Haviland Lake, May 23, 2007.

Foothills to subalpine. Woodlands, openings.  Spring.
Chris Park Trail, June 27, 2005.

Plants elongate as they mature and petals drop as the maturing seed head becomes a mass of silvery fluff.

Foothills to subalpine. Woodlands, openings.  Spring.
Haviland Lake, April 31, 2008.
Chris Park Trail, June 27, 2005.

The fluff that will carry the seeds on summer breezes is visible even in young flowers in the center of golden yellow pollen.  Eventually delicate violet petals and yellow coated anther sacks fall away and are replaced by the twisting mass of feathery seed heads.