Grazing for biotope protection
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The common pasque flower is in decline in Germany. The last natural occurrence in Saxony is found here at the Wachtelberg.
Threatened with extinction
The common pasque flower is a protected species that is categorised as ‘endangered’ in Germany and ‘threatened with extinction’ in Saxony. Thanks to the commitment of conservationist and area manager Klaus Zeibig since the 1960s, the species has been preserved and its population developed through intensive care and maintenance measures.
In the 1980s, the number of individuals reached well over 2,000 and grew to around 3,000 pasque flowers in 1999. After the closure of the nearby nature conservation centre, the population began to decline, so that in 2011 only 66 plants were recorded.
Measures to save the common cowbell
Due to the alarming situation, the environmental office of the district of Leipzig the Walter Meusel Foundation in Chemnitz was commissioned in 2011 to record and monitor the population, investigate the threats, secure the remaining plants and rebuild the population.
In 2012, a ‘Species conservation project for the preservation and regeneration of the last occurrence of Pulsatilla vulgaris in Saxony’ funded by the Free State of Saxony was launched. This includes the cultivation from seeds obtained from the old plants and the planting of young plants on specially prepared sites on the Wachtelberg as well as corresponding monitoring measures. Since then, between 120 and 170 young plants have been planted each year. The success of the growth is variable and depends on the weather conditions. At the same time the old population continues to decline. In 2016, the population again reached 625 plants, 72 of which flowered. In 2018, 233 of a total of 588 plants reached the flowering stage. Although seedlings initially took root, no generative propagation of pasque flowers was observed in the following years.
Extreme climatic conditions such as prolonged periods of heat, heavy rainfall and late frosts in spring also led to considerable losses among the established young plants. The increasing scrub encroachment on the Wachtelberg and the colonisation of invasive species through nutrient input and seed dispersal from the nearby agricultural areas also have a negative impact on the population development and the success of the species conservation measures.
Current information on the species conservation project
for the cow-bell is provided by the Walter Meusel Foundation at www.pulsatilla-sachsen.de. Please also take advantage of the Foundation’s lectures and guided tours of the Chemnitz Arctic-Alpine Garden.
Walter Meusel Foundation, Schmidt-Rottluff- Strasse 90, 09114 Chemnitz
Frugal lover of barren soils
The common pasque flower loves warm, rocky and dry locations. Its taproot can penetrate up to one metre deep into the soil. The fine hairs along the stem protect the plant from evaporation. The Wachtelberg with its dry, slightly acidic soils of weathered porphyry rock therefore provides the plant with ideal growing conditions.
Confusing variety of names
The bell-like flowers of the pasque flower are reminiscent of the bells that are hung around grazing cows, hence the common German name „Kuhschelle (cowbell)“. The name ‘Easter flower’ is also used in the vernacular because the flowers usually open in time for Easter.
Captions of photographs
- Emerged seeds of the common pasque flower – photo: Walter-Meusel-Foundation
- Creation of planting sites and planting of the common pasque flower by the Walter Meusel Foundation – photo: Walter-Meusel-Foundation
- Planting site of the common pasque flower – photo: Landkreis Leipzig, Umweltamt