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cuckoo flower
Scientific Name: Cardamine pratensis var. angustifolia
Family: Brassicaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis)
The Cuckooflower, also known as Lady's Smock, is a charming springtime perennial wildflower found in damp, grassy areas.
Considerations for Pets and Children
- The plant belongs to the Brassicaceae (cabbage) family, known to contain compounds that may cause mild digestive upset in some animals if ingested in large quantities.
- Though described as "dainty," it's worth noting the plant produces seed pods, which might be tempting to curious pets or children.
- Some sources indicate the leaves and flowers have a cress-like taste, potentially attracting attention from pets or children.
Common Names
- Cuckooflower
- Lady's Smock
- Meadowcress
- Pigeon's Eye
- Lucy
- Milkmaid/Milking Maids
- Cuckoo Bread
- Lucy Locket
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Cardamine pratensis
- Family: Brassicaceae (also known as Cruciferae or the Mustard Family)
- Order: Brassicales
- Taxonomic Rank: Perennial
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to most of Europe and Western Asia.
- Found in damp, grassy places such as wet meadows, ditches, marshes, damp grasslands, roadsides and river banks.
- Observed on the Western Isles and throughout Scotland and The UK.
Morphological Characteristics
- Grows to a height of about 20-60cm (8 inches to 2 feet).
- Flowers are typically lilac-pink, pink, or white, with four petals, and around 1.5cm across.
- Flowers appear from April to June/July.
- Leaves are narrow and long.
- Rosettes of pinnate leaves with a flowering stem.
- Seed pods grow beneath the flowers.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- The flowers attract bee-flies and long-tongued hoverflies.
- Provides food for the orange-tip butterfly.
Edibility
- Roots, shoots, leaves, flowers, or seeds are considered edible. The leaves and flowers taste like cress and watercress. Consume only if you are 100% certain of identification.
Quirky Facts
- The Cuckooflower blooms around the time the cuckoo starts to call, hence its name.
- In Cheshire, UK, (where it is the County Flower) it has traditional names.
- There is an old wives' tale that picking cuckooflowers would make it thunder.
Further Information
- RHS (Royal Horticultural Society): Find help & information on Cardamine pratensis cuckoo flower.
- Nature's Calendar: Download a free cuckooflower fact sheet.
- Field Guides to Healey Dell: Offers information on Lady's Smock.