Pheasant's eye  (Adonis annua)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Description

The beautiful pheasant's eye has feathery leaves and produces attractive scarlet coloured flowers, similar in appearance to anemones (4). The arrangement of the seeds resembles a loganberry (5). The Latin name Adonis is said to remember the young Adonis who was killed by a wild boar; this flower supposedly sprang up from the ground where his blood fell (6). Pheasants have red eyes, and the common name refers to this fact (6). Local names include 'Jack in the green', 'love lies bleeding' and 'rose-a-ruby' (6).

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