Adonis aestivalis, a member of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae), is native to Southern Europe and Northern Africa. With its feathery foliage and brilliant blood-red flowers, it is a delightful plant for the garden. However, it poisonous to horses and inhibits the growth of plants next to it.
It’s easily seen why the nickname for this annual herb is pheasant’s eye with its bright crimson flowers with black centers. Greek legend has it that Adonis was killed by a wild boar and from where his blood fell, this flower sprang. It has similar medicinal properties to digitalis.
The photograph of the Adonis blossom was taken in our garden. The cup-shaped flower has a diameter of about 1.5 cm and will open up further during development.