This is an archived copy of this article, recovered after a server failure in January 2022.

Some links may be broken, and editing is disabled. We are working to bring back full functionality.

Cardamine pratensis
  • Cuckoo Flower

a perennial member of the Cardamine genus in the family Brassicaceae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementshigh
    High
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 4
    Zone 4
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Cardamine pratensis has 0 edible uses listed
Cardamine pratensis has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Leaves and young shoots - raw or cooked[1][2][3][4][5]. Rich in vitamins and minerals[6], especially vitamin C[7], but with a bitter and pungent flavour[8]. The leaves and young shoots are harvested in the spring and taste rather like water cress[9]. The leaves can be available early in the year[K] and when used in small quantities make a very acceptable addition to salads[183, K]. Flowers and flower buds - raw. A pungent cress-like flavour[183, K]. The white flowers are very attractive, they make a pleasant nibble and also add a delicious flavour to salads[K].

Flowers

Unknown use

Leaves

Unknown use

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Cardamine pratensis.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Cuckoo flower is seldom used in herbalism, though an infusion of the leaves has been used to treat indigestion and promote appetite[6]. The leaves and the flowering plant are antirheumatic, antiscorbutic, antispasmodic, carminative, digestive, diuretic, stimulant[9][10][11][7][12]. They are used internally in the treatment of chronic skin complaints, asthma and hysteria[7]. The plant is harvested in spring and early summer and is best used when fresh[9][7].

Unknown part

Antirheumatic
Antiscorbutic
Antispasmodic
Carminative
Digestive
Diuretic
Stimulant

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow outdoors in a seedbed in a shady position in April. Plant out in autumn or spring.

Division in spring or autumn[7].

The plant produces young plants at the base of its leaflets. When large enough, these can be easily separated from the main plant and grown on as individual plants[K].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Cardamine pratensis. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Succeeds in most soils[13][14] so long as they are moist or wet[15][16]. Prefers a cool damp soil[14]. Succeeds in full sun or partial shade[7].

Cuckoo flower was at one time much used as a spring salad plant and was often sold in local markets. It has, however, fallen out of favour and is scarcely used at present[6]. A polymorphic species[17]. A very ornamental plant, non-invasive and well suited to the wild garden though it may require protection from wood pigeons who eat out the young buds in spring[15]. It grows well in the spring meadow[18]. A food plant for the orange tip butterfly[18].

There is at least one named variety, selected for its ornamental value. 'Flore Pleno' is a double flowered form[15].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Cardamine pratensis. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Cardamine pratensis.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Cardamine pratensis
Genus
Cardamine
Family
Brassicaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Medicinal uses
[6][9][10][11][7][12]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[17][19]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
4
Heat Zone
?
Water
high
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.45 x 0.3 meters
    Fertility
    self fertile
    Pollinators
    Bees, Flies, Lepidoptera
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

    "image:Illustration Cardamine pratensis0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Illustration Cardamine pratensis0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Illustration Cardamine pratensis0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Illustration Cardamine pratensis0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Illustration Cardamine pratensis0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Illustration Cardamine pratensis0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Illustration Cardamine pratensis0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Illustration Cardamine pratensis0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Illustration Cardamine pratensis0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Illustration Cardamine pratensis0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Illustration Cardamine pratensis0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Illustration Cardamine pratensis0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Illustration Cardamine pratensis0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Illustration Cardamine pratensis0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins ISBN 0-00-219060-5 (1974-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles ISBN 0-7153-7971-2 ()
    4. ? 4.04.1 Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn (1980-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. ()
    6. ? 6.06.16.26.36.4 Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. ISBN 0-85613-067-2 (1979-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.17.27.37.47.57.67.7 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8 ()
    9. ? 9.09.19.29.39.4 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 (1981-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.1 Gamble. J. S. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh (1972-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.1 Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest. ()
    12. ? 12.012.1 Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. (1986-00-00)
    13. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    14. ? 14.014.1 Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge (1926-00-00)
    15. ? 15.015.115.2 Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books ISBN 0-330-30936-9 (1991-00-00)
    16. ? Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-86318-386-7 (1990-00-00)
    17. ? 17.017.1 Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)
    18. ? 18.018.1 Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden. ()
    19. ? Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)

    Cite error: <ref> tag with name "PFAFimport-31" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.
    Cite error: <ref> tag with name "PFAFimport-13" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.

    "image:Illustration Cardamine pratensis0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "http://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Cardamine_pratensis&oldid=75917"
    Facts about "Cardamine pratensis"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyBrassicaceae +
    Belongs to genusCardamine +
    Has common nameCuckoo Flower +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partFlowers + and Leaves +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has fertility typeSelf fertile +, Bee +, Flies + and Lepidoptera +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone4 +
    Has imageIllustration Cardamine pratensis0.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has mature height0.45 +
    Has mature width0.3 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAntirheumatic +, Antiscorbutic +, Antispasmodic +, Carminative +, Digestive +, Diuretic + and Stimulant +
    Has primary imageIllustration Cardamine pratensis0.jpg +
    Has search namecardamine pratensis + and x +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameCardamine pratensis +
    Has water requirementshigh +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +