Adonis (botany), genus of annual and perennial herbs (see Buttercup) containing about 20 species,

grown for their showy flowers. They attain a height of about 30 cm (about 12 in) and have alternate, finely cut leaves; the flowers are usually red in the annual species and yellow in the perennial.

Spring adonis is a perennial species bearing yellow flowers in May and June. Summer adonis, or pheasant's eye, is an annual with crimson flowers blooming from June to August. Autumn adonis, or flos adonis, is an annual; it bears small, dark-centered, red flowers from June through September.

Scientific classification: The genus Adonis belongs to the family Ranunculaceae. The spring adonis is classified as Adonis vernalis; the summer adonis, or pheasant's eye, as Adonis aestivalis; and the autumn adonis, or flos adonis, as Adonis autumnalis.