{{Short description|Species of flowering plant in the cabbage family}} {{Speciesbox | image = Wiesenschaumkraut (Cardamine pratensis)-20200416-RM-095356.jpg | genus = Cardamine | species = pratensis | authority = L. | synonyms = * ''Cardamine dentata'' <small>Schult.</small> }}

'''''Cardamine pratensis''''', the '''cuckoo flower''', '''lady's smock''', '''mayflower''', or '''milkmaids''', is a flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. It is a perennial herb native to Eurasia.

==Description== ''Cardamine pratensis'' is a herbaceous, hairless,<ref name="Webb et al">Webb, D.A., Parnell, J. and Doogue, D. ''An Irish Flora'' 1996. Dundalgan Press, Dundalk. {{ISBN|0-85221-131-7}}</ref> perennial plant growing to {{Convert|60|cm}} tall,<ref name="tfb">{{Cite book |last=Francis-Baker |first=Tiffany |title=Concise Foraging Guide |date=2021 |publisher=Bloomsbury |isbn=978-1-4729-8474-6 |series=The Wildlife Trusts |location=London |pages=64}}</ref> with pinnate leaves {{Convert|5–12|cm|abbr=on|frac=4}} long with 3–15 leaflets, each leaflet about 1&nbsp;cm long. The flowers are produced on a spike {{Convert|10–30|cm|abbr=on|frac=2}} long, each flower 1–2&nbsp;cm in diameter with four very pale violet-pink (rarely white) petals.<ref name="Webb et al" />{{Verification needed|date=December 2024}} and 6 stamens. The fruit is a seed pod up to {{Convert|5|cm|abbr=on|frac=2}}.<ref name="tfb" /> It grows best close to water.

==Etymology== The specific name ''pratensis'' is Latin for "from/of the meadow".

Its common name ''cuckoo flower'' derives from the formation of the plant's flowers at around the same time as the arrival each spring of the first cuckoos in the British Isles.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Lady's Smock {{!}} Wildflowers {{!}} Wildlife |url = http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/ladys-smock|website = www.wildlifetrusts.org|access-date = 2016-10-10}}</ref> An alternative 16th century dated tale refers to 'cuckoo spit', which the plant is sometimes covered in, due to a bug called the froghopper and not the cuckoo.<ref name=Readers>{{cite book |year=1981 |title=Reader's Digest Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of Britain |page=57 |publisher=Reader's Digest |isbn=978-0-276-00217-5 }}</ref>

==Distribution== The species is widespread in Europe<ref name="tfb" /> and commonly found throughout the British Isles.<ref>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}}</ref>

Recorded in Ireland from all 40 of the "vice-counties" (a&nbsp;system adopted by Robert Lloyd Praeger in 1901).<ref>Scannell, M.J.P and Synnott, D.M. 1972. ''Census Catalogue of the Flora of Ireland.'' Dublin</ref>

==Cultivation== 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 ''Anthocharis cardamines'' (the orange-tip butterfly).{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

==Uses== The plant is edible with a peppery taste similar to watercress.<ref name="tfb" />

==In culture== 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.<ref>Howard, Michael. ''Traditional Folk Remedies'', (Century, 1987); p</ref>

It is the county flower of both the English county of Cheshire and of the Welsh county of Brecknockshire.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Cuckooflower {{!}} Plant & fungi species {{!}} Wild plants|url = http://www.plantlife.org.uk/wild_plants/plant_species/cuckooflower/|website = www.plantlife.org.uk|access-date = 2016-10-10|archive-date = 2017-01-03|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170103135203/http://www.plantlife.org.uk/wild_plants/plant_species/cuckooflower|url-status = dead}}</ref>

==Gallery== <gallery class="center"> File: Cardamine pratensis in Wildbad 07.jpg |''Cardamine pratensis'' in Bavaria, Germany File:Cuckoo flower Wiltshire.JPG|''Cardamine pratensis'' growing in Wiltshire, UK Image:Cardamine pratensis.jpg|Details of flowers Image:Cardamine pratensis 10.JPG|Buds of a ''Cardamine pratensis'' File:Illustration Cardamine pratensis0.jpg|Botanical illustration from Otto Wilhelm Thomé Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz 1885, Gera, Germany File:Cardamine pratensis řeřišnice luční 1.jpg|Flowers File:Cardamine pratensis řeřišnice luční 2.jpg|Plants File:Pinksterbloem.jpg|Flowers, pinker variety File: Cardamine pratensis 2.JPG|Seedling </gallery>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category |Cardamine pratensis}} * {{cite book | author=Blanchan, Neltje | author-link=Neltje Blanchan | title=Wild Flowers: An Aid to Knowledge of our Wild Flowers and their Insect Visitors | year=2002 | publisher=Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q27490}}

pratensis Category:Flora of Europe Category:Flora of Western Asia Category:Flora of China Category:Flora of Japan Category:Flora of Korea Category:Flora of Greenland Category:Flora of Connecticut Category:Plants described in 1753 Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Category:Flora without expected TNC conservation status