Cardamine Pratensis Description

C. Pratensis (Cuckoo Flower) is one of the most common species in the Cardamine genus, being the 3rd most observed Cardamine on iNaturalist as of writing. The plant has colonised the United States after the plant being sown as a garden plant.

The plant is often seen growing in ditches and steams where there is good waterflow. Roadsides are often a perfect habitat for the plant as water is easy drained from them into nearby ditches.

Glabrous throughout.

STEMS
Red in early growth, turns to a vibrant green. Single stem per plant.

LEAVES
Venation is very subtle.
Basal leaves: Differ from stem leaves. 1-pinnte, evolute instead of involute. Shape variable, rotund to broadly elliptical. Apex mucronulate.⁴
Stem leaves: 1-pinnate, leaflets involute. Shape variable, typically ovobate^{2, 3}. Apex rounded-apiculate, apiculate tip yellow². Margin entire, red². Base attenuate, becoming decurrent approaching the apex of the rachis³.

FLOWERS
Inflorescence: raceme.
Petals: 4. Pale pink, occasionally with purple veins running through³. Turns a green colour when entering the corolla throat⁴.
Sepals, 4. At 45 degrees to the petals i.e. sits between two petals³.
Stamen: 6, can appear green⁴

Gallery:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/171560581
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/163360188
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/171560598
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/220558236

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Posted on 06 June, 2024 21:06 by account120