Cardamine pratensis
| Cardamine pratensis | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Brassicales |
| Family: | Brassicaceae |
| Genus: | Cardamine |
| Species: | C. pratensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Cardamine pratensis L. |
|
Cardamine pratensis (cuckooflower or lady's smock), is a flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae, native throughout most of Europe and Western Asia. The specific name pratensis is Latin for "meadow."
Contents
Description[edit]
Cardamine pratensis is a herbaceous, hairless,[1] perennial plant growing to 40–60 cm tall, with pinnate leaves 5–12 cm long with 3-15 leaflets, each leaflet about 1 cm long. The flowers are produced on a spike 10–30 cm long, each flower 1–2 cm diameter with four pale pink (rarely white) petals. The style of the fruit is short or longish.[1] It grows best close to water.
Distribution[edit]
Common throughout the British Isles.[2]
Recorded in Ireland from all 40 of the "vice-counties", (a system adopted by Praeger (1901)).[3]
Cultivation[edit]
It is grown as an ornamental plant in gardens, and has become naturalised in North America as a result of cultivation. In some European countries, including parts of Germany, the plant is now under threat.
It is a food plant for the orange tip butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines) and makes a valuable addition to any garden which aims at attracting wildlife. It was once used as a substitute for watercress.
Folklore[edit]
In folklore it was said to be sacred to the fairies, and so was unlucky if brought indoors. It was not included in May Day garlands for the same reason.[4]
Gallery[edit]
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Cardamine pratensis growing in Wiltshire, UK
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Details of flowers
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Buds of a Cardamine pratensis
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Flowers
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Plants
Notes[edit]
- ^ a b Webb, D.A., Parnell, J. and Doogue, D. An Irish Flora 1996. Dundalgan Press, Dundalk. ISBN 0-85221-131-7
- ^ Clapham, A.R., Tutin, T.G. and Warburg, E.F. 1968. Excursion Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-04656-4
- ^ Scannell, M.J.P and Synnott, D.M. 1972. Census Catalogue of the Flora of Ireland. Dublin
- ^ Howard, Michael. Traditional Folk Remedies, (Century, 1987); p
References[edit]
- Blanchan, Neltje (2002). Wild Flowers: An Aid to Knowledge of our Wild Flowers and their Insect Visitors. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.
Further illustrations[edit]
Scott, R.2004. Wild Belfast on safari in the city. The Blackstaff Press, Belfast. ISBN 0-85640-762-3. Photograph p. 45.
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- Cardamine
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