Species: Cardamine pratensis L.

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Cardamine pratensis L.

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Brassicaceae

Genus:

Cardamine

Species Synonyms:

none

Common Names:

cuckoo flower
meadow bitter cress
cuckoo bitter cress

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

Yukon Territory - Mackenzie District (Northwest Territories) - Ellesmere Island - Labrador, south to central Alberta - central Saskatchewan - Ontario to eastern Quebec, Newfoundland

Saskatchewan:

central and northern Saskatchewan; Hasbala Lake to Pike Lake

Ecoregion:

Moist Mixed Grassland, Boreal Transition, Mid-Boreal Lowland, Tazin Lake Upland, Selwyn Lake Upland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

muskegs and peaty shores

Associated species:

sedge species, tamarack

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Threatened

Nature Conservancy Status:

G5 S2

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Cuckoo flower is threatened in Saskatchewan because it is uncommon and population sizes vary from large to small. No immediate threats are known but may occur in the future.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

10 – 50 cm

Roots:

root fibrous; rhizome short

Stems:

erect, slender

Leaves:

basal and on the stem; basal leaves stalked, 5 – 10 cm long, to 8 mm wide, pinnately compound; stem leaves alternate, sessile to stalked, 2 – 4 cm long, to 5 m wide

Leaflets:

basal 11 – 15, oval to round, terminal leaflet not considerably larger, margin entire to obscurely toothed; leaflets on stems leaves 11 – 15, elliptic, terminal leaflet not considerably larger than lateral, margin entire to obscurely toothed

Inflorescence:

unbranched, flowers stalked

Flowers:

15 – 25 mm broad; sepals not fused, oval; petals 8 – 13 mm long, pink or rarely white

Fruits:

silique ascending, 1 – 2 cm long, to 1 mm wide, purplish; beaks 1 – 2 mm long

CARDAMINE KEY IN SASKATCHEWAN

1 Flowers 15 – 25 mm broad; petals generally pink, rarely white	C. pratensis
1 Flowers 3 – 10 mm broad; petals white	2

2 Stems hairy at base; stem leaves 4 – 8 cm long; leaflets broad, winged on central axis, terminal leaflets widest at the top	C. pensylvanica
2 Stems hairless throughout; stem leaves 2 – 4 cm long; leaflets narrow, not winged on central axis, terminal leaflet linear	C. parviflora var. arenicola