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South Dakota State Floral Emblem

American Pasque Flower Pulsatilla hirsutissima Adopted:March 5, 1903
South Dakota State Flower: Pasque
South Dakota State Flower: Pasque

Adoption of the South Dakota State Floral Emblem

Attention to the pasque or wind flower in South Dakota dates back to a time long before Europeans settled in the area. The first flower to show its blossom in the spring was the subject of Plains Indian songs and legends. As the first blossom to show itself in the spring, the pasque flower lent itself to legend and an endearing place in the hearts of early settlers.

The history of the pasque flower, its abundance and its spring wake-up call made it a natural choice for the floral emblem of South Dakota. There were other favorites however, among them cactus flowers and the wild rose. In the end, the pasque flower was the choice.

The bill to adopt the pasque as South Dakota's official state flower described initially described it as "the pasque or wind flower." The approved bill referred to the flower as the American pasque flower (Anemone patens).

The pasque flower, along with the motto "I lead," was approved as the official floral emblem of South Dakota on May 5, 1903.

South Dakota is the only state to have incorporated a motto with adoption of its floral emblem. "I lead" compliments nicely the first blooms of spring.

In 1919, the statute was amended to substitute Pulsatilla hirsutissima for Anemone patens.

The pasque flower is known by many names. The Lakota name for the flower is "hosi cekpa" meaning "child's navel." Others refer to this flower as anemone, wind flower, blue anemone, Hartshorne plant gosling plant American pulstilla, prairie crocus, blue tulip, wild crocus prairie smoke, sand flower, rock lily, headache plant, Coventry bells and the May Day flower.

South Dakota Codified Laws

The following information is excerpted from the South Dakota Codified Laws, Title 1, Chapter 1-6, Section 1-6-10.

Additional Information

South Dakota State Flower: Pasque
South Dakota State Flower: Pasque

Plant Profile for Pulsatilla patens (L.) P. Mill. ssp. multifida (Pritz.) Zamels (Cutleaf Anemone): USDA, NRCS. 2004. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

State Flower List: List of all of the state flowers.

State Birds & Flowers 1000-pc Puzzle: Created at the request of The National Wildlife Federation this design is a beautiful and informative puzzle featuring every state bird perched on the appropriate state flower.

State Birds and Flowers Coloring Book by Annika Bernhard - 51 accurately detailed, copyright-free renderings include national bird (eagle) and flower (rose) plus 50 state birds and flowers.

U. S. State Flowers in Cross Stitch by Gerda Bengtsson - Botanically correct cross stitch designs of state flowers of the 50 States.

Quilting Flowers of the States by Sue Harvey - A lovely 12-inch flower block for each of the 50 states. Techniques used are piecing, appliqué, paper-piecing and three-dimensional techniques.

Plants, Seeds & Flowers: Bulbs, seeds, plants, fertilizer, plant containers and more.

Gardening Tools: Pruners, rakes, shovels, hoes, trowels, cultivators and tillers, greenhouses, yard carts and more.

State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols: A Historical Guide, Third Edition - Benjamin F. Shearer and Barbara S. Shearer, Greenwood Press, 2002

State Names, Flags, Seals, Songs, Birds, Flowers and Other Symbols: A Study based on historical documents giving the origin and significance of the state names, nicknames, mottoes, seals, flowers, birds, songs, and descriptive comments on the capitol buildings and on some of the leading state histories, Revised Edition - George Earlie Shankle, Ph.D., The H.W. Wilson Company, 1938 (Reprint Services Corp. 1971)


Source: South Dakota Codified Laws, (http://legis.state.sd.us/statutes/StatutesTitleList.aspx), September 10, 2005
Source: State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols: A Historical Guide, Third Edition - Benjamin F. Shearer and Barbara S. Shearer, Greenwood Press, 2002
Source: State Names, Flags, Seals, Songs, Birds, Flowers and Other Symbols: Revised Edition (Reprint)- George Earlie Shankle, Ph.D., The H.W. Wilson Company, 1938

 
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