| Cardamine pratensis | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Brassicales |
| Family: | Brassicaceae |
| Genus: | Cardamine |
| Species: | C. pratensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Cardamine pratensis | |
| Synonyms | |
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Cardamine pratensis, thecuckoo flower,lady's smock,mayflower, ormilkmaids, is aflowering plant in the familyBrassicaceae. It is a perennial herb native to Eurasia.
Cardamine pratensis is aherbaceous, hairless,[1]perennial plant growing to 60 centimetres (24 in) tall,[2] with pinnateleaves 5–12 cm (2–4+3⁄4 in) long with 3–15 leaflets, each leaflet about 1 cm long. Theflowers are produced on a spike 10–30 cm (4–12 in) long, each flower 1–2 cm in diameter with four very pale violet-pink (rarely white) petals.[1][verification needed] The fruit is a seed pod up to 5 cm (2 in).[2] It grows best close to water.
The specific namepratensis isLatin for "from/of the meadow".
Its common namecuckoo flower derives from the formation of the plant's flowers at around the same time as the arrival each spring of the firstcuckoos in the British Isles.[3] An alternative 16th century dated tale refers to 'cuckoo spit', which the plant is sometimes covered in, due to a bug called thefroghopper and not the cuckoo.[4]
The species is widespread in Europe[2] and commonly found throughout the British Isles.[5]
Recorded in Ireland from all 40 of the "vice-counties" (a system adopted byRobert Lloyd Praeger in 1901).[6]
It is grown as anornamental plant in gardens, and has becomenaturalised 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 forAnthocharis cardamines (the orange-tip butterfly).[citation needed]
The plant is edible with a peppery taste similar towatercress.[2]
In folklore it was said to be sacred to thefairies, and so was unlucky if brought indoors. It was not included inMay Daygarlands for the same reason.[7]
It is thecounty flower of the English county ofCheshire.[8]
