mayflower

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• European field bittercress
• cuckoo-flower
• lady's smock
• meadow bittercress
• pink cuckoo-flower
• Cuckoo Flower
• Milk-Maids
• lady's-smock
• meadow cress
• spinks

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Nasturtium pratense
• Dracamine pratensis
• Crucifera pratensis
• Ghinia pratensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Brassicales, it is classified under the family Brassicaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Cardamine.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several key regions within Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Denmark and Finland. Furthermore, its presence extends to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. The species also inhabits the northern territories of Norway. Together, these locations highlight the plant's significant range throughout the northern part of the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cardamine pratensis is defined by its preference for consistently moist to wet environments, frequently colonizing the margins of lakes, marshes, and damp meadows. It thrives in areas characterized by high water tables, often establishing itself within the transition zones between open water and terrestrial landscapes, as well as among lush shrubberies where moisture is abundant. This species is well-adapted to nutrient-rich, alluvial soils and can withstand periodic inundation, allowing it to flourish in various wetland ecosystems and riparian buffer zones where soil saturation remains high throughout much of the growing season.

Habitat :

lakes, shrubberies

Life history

The life history of Cardamine pratensis is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its habitat across multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, the plant survives the unfavorable dormant seasons by protecting its perennual buds at or just below the soil surface, typically utilizing a rhizomatous root system to facilitate vegetative spread and long-term establishment. This life form strategy enables it to effectively manage seasonal transitions, ensuring its continued presence in moist meadow or riparian ecosystems.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cardamine pratensis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. As a self-supporting plant, it does not exhibit climbing behavior, functioning instead as an independent organism without parasitic or epiphytic dependencies. The species is terrestrial in its habitat rather than aquatic. In terms of stature, the plant displays a variable height, with individuals typically reaching a mean height of approximately 0.3475 m, though dimensions can range from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.6 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.6 m

Plant height mean:

0.3475 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cardamine pratensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy typical of many temperate herbaceous plants. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies entirely on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the capture of insects for nitrogen. The leaf morphology reflects significant variability, with mean leaf lengths recorded at 1.25 cm, though individual leaves can range from a minimum of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 2 cm. The average leaf size is approximately 10.27 cm², and the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 203.54 cm²/g, a metric that provides insight into its leaf thickness and the efficiency of its light-harvesting structures relative to its biomass.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

2 cm

Leaf length mean:

1.25 cm

Leaf length min:

0.5 cm

Leaf size mean:

10.27 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

203.54 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cardamine pratensis is primarily sexual, characterized by bisexual flowers that facilitate successful fertilization, including the ability for self-fertilization. The flowering period is relatively long, typically beginning in April and extending through August. The plant relies on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically utilizing insects such as bees to achieve pollination. Following fertilization, the plant produces dry, dehiscence-type fruit in the form of capsules. These capsules vary in size, with a mean length of 3.25 cm (ranging from 2.5 to 3.25 cm) and a mean width of 0.15 cm (ranging from 0.1 to 0.15 cm). Each fruit is highly productive, containing between 101 and 1000 seeds. The seeds themselves are uniform in dimensions, with a consistent length of 2 mm and a volume of 0.42 mm³. In terms of mass, the seeds are quite light, with a mean mass of approximately 0.000595889 g (ranging from 0.00059 g to 0.0006 g). Once mature, the seeds are dispersed via an autochorous mechanism, where the plant employs self-dispersal to spread its progeny. Asexual reproduction is absent in this species.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

2.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

3.25 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

0.1 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.15 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

2 mm

Seed mass max:

6e-04 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000595889 g

Seed mass min:

0.00059 g

Seed volume max:

0.42 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Cardamine pratensis has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Glucosinolates.

Glucosinolates

1. PloS one