Classification (APG IV)
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Ranunculaceae
Genus: Adonis
Species: Pheasant´s eye - Adonis vernalis L.

Botanical Description
Pheasant´s eye is a perennial herbaceous plant. Its root is thick, short, and vertical. The stem is simple and sparsely branched, while the leaves are intricately divided and slightly hairy. The basal leaves are scalelike and located close to the stem. Stem leaves are sessile, finely divided, and slightly hairy. The flowers are glossy and bright yellow, with a diameter of up to 5 cm. Each flower consists of 15-20 free petals supported by five velvety sepals. Numerous stamens and pistils are present. When in bloom, the plant reaches a height of 10-15 cm, while fruiting plants grow 40-60 cm tall. The fruits are wrinkled, hooked achenes, which ripen in July. The plant flowers from late April to May.

Distribution
Adonis is native to Central and Southern Europe, as well as the European part of Russia, Siberia, the Crimea, and the Caucasus.

Effects and Uses
The plant contains 25 known cardiac glycosides, including adonitoxin, cymarin, K-strophanthoside, and K-strophanthin. Flavonoids present include adonivernite, vitexin, and orientin. The plant also contains saponins, coumarins, and trace minerals such as chromium, molybdenum, and manganese.

The aerial parts of the plant (herb) are used as the drug, harvested when the plant begins to flower up until fruit formation. Approximately 5-10 cm of the shoot tips are collected and quickly dried at temperatures up to 50°C. Due to its toxicity, the herb is not used directly but is employed in the preparation of cardiotonic medications.

Adonis-based drugs enhance cardiac tone, strengthen systole, promote diuresis, and dilate blood vessels in the kidneys and heart. In folk medicine, the plant has been used to treat bronchial asthma, alleviate rheumatic pain, and as a sedative and sleep aid.

Süstemaatiline kuuluvus (APG IV)
Riik: Taimed (Plantae)
Klaad: Soontaimed (Tracheophyta)
Klaad: Katteseemnetaimed (Angiospermae)
Klaad: Päriskaheidulehelised (Eudicotyledonae)
Selts: Tulikalaadsed (Ranunculales)
Sugukond: Tulikalised (Ranunculaceae)
Perekond: Adoonis (Adonis)
Liik: Kevadadoonis - Adonis vernalis L.

Botaaniline kirjeldus
Mitmeaastane rohttaim. Taime juur on jäme ja lühike, vertikaalne. vars lihtne, väheharunev, lehedkribuliselt jagunevad kergelt karvased. Alumised lehed  varrelähedased ja soomuselised varrelehed on istuvalt, mitmelt lõhestunud. Õied läikivad, säravkollased 5 cm läbimõõduga. Õis koosneb 15-20 vabalt olevatest kroonlehtedest, mida toetavad viis viltjat tupplehte. Tolmukaid ja emakaid on palju. Õitsva taime kõrgus on 10-15 cm, viljakandvalt, 40-60 cm. Viljad on krimpsulised, konksulise nokaga , küpsevad juulis. Vili on kogumik paljudest ovaalsetest pähklikestest.Õitseb aprilli lõpus-mais.

Levila
Adoonis levinud Kesk-ja Lõuna-Euroopas, Venemaal Siberi Euroopa osas, Krimmis, Kaukaasias  Siberi Euroopa osas.

Toime ja kasutamine
Teadaolevalt sisaldab 25 südameglükosiidi sealhulgas adonitoksiin, tsümariini, K-strofantosiidi, К-strofantiini. Flavonoididest leidub temas adoniverniiti, viteksiini, orientiini. Sisaldab ka saponiine, kumariine, mineraalainetest kroomi, molübdeeni, mangaani.

Droogiks kasutatakse taime maapealset osa ehk ürti (kogutakse 5-10 cm pikkust ladvaosa), mida kogutakse taime õitsemise algusest kuni viljade valmimiseni. Droog kuivatatakse kiiresti kuni 50 kraadi juures. Kuna tegemist on mürgise taimega, siis droogina ei tarvitata. Kasutatakse kardiotoonilise toimega preparaatide valmistamisel.  Droog on südame toonust tõstva südame süstoleid tõstva toimega. Soodustab uriinieritust ja laiendav neerudes ja südames paiknevaid veresooni. Rahvameditsiinis on kasutatud ka bronhiaalastma raviks, reumaatiliste valude leevendamiseks, rahustava ja und soodustava vahendina.