Definition

Noun: * A bitter cress of Europe and America: Cardamine pratensis is the scientific name for a perennial herbaceous plant commonly known as cuckooflower or lady's-smock. It is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae, native to damp meadows and grasslands across Europe and temperate Asia, and naturalized in parts of America.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The damp field was dotted with the pale lilac flowers of Cardamine pratensis. (The damp field was dotted with the pale lilac flowers of the cuckooflower.)
  • Botanists study Cardamine pratensis to understand its role in wetland ecosystems. (Botanists study the lady's-smock to understand its role in wetland ecosystems.)
  • This species, identified as Cardamine pratensis, is protected in this nature reserve. (This species, identified as cuckooflower, is protected in this nature reserve.)

Advanced Usage

• In botanical taxonomy: The name is used in its full binomial form to specify the exact species, avoiding confusion with common names which can vary by region.
  • The specimen was keyed out and confirmed to be Cardamine pratensis L., as described by Linnaeus. (The specimen was identified and confirmed to be the species originally described by Linnaeus.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cuckooflower (n): The most widespread common name for , referring to its typical flowering time coinciding with the arrival of cuckoos.
• Lady's-smock (n): A traditional common name for .
• Meadow bittercress (n): A descriptive common name referencing its habitat and genus.
• Cardamine (n): The genus name, which includes other species of bittercress.

Synonyms

• Cuckooflower
• Lady's-smock

Related Phrases

• In the genus Cardamine: Used to describe its taxonomic classification.
  • Cardamine pratensis belongs in the genus Cardamine, which contains many edible cresses. (Cuckooflower belongs in the genus Cardamine, which contains many edible cresses.)

Noun

1. a bitter cress of Europe and America