Additional notes (click to expand)

Medicinal

Listed as a 'simple' for making medicine.
Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh, (1817). Pharmacopoeia Collegii Regii Medicorum Edinburghensis. Edinburgh, Bell & Bradfute; and others. p.9

Gerard says watercress (Nasturtium officinale), garden cress (Lepidium sativum), brooklime (Veronica beccabunga), and cardamine (bitter cress, cuckoo flower, Cardamine pratensis and other ) may be as good as Cochlearia in treating scurvy.
Gerard, J. (1975). The Herbal or General History of Plants. New York: Fascimile Dover Publications Inc .

Nomenclature

Nasturtium pratensis majus; Cardamine latifolia, Great Ladies Smocks or cresses.
Parkinson, John (1640) 'Theatrum Botanicum' London, Thomas Cotes p.825

Now growing as Cardamine quinquefolia. Please see record.

Other use

Used by country folk to decorate their gardens, not much used in sauces, sallets or in Physick, but used for Scorbute or scurvy [not synonymous with modern use of the word, implying Vitamin C deficiency].
Parkinson, John (1640) 'Theatrum Botanicum' London, Thomas Cotes p.825

"... resembles Water Cresses, not differing much from it in its Virtues, being both heating, warming, and good for the Scurvy. It may, where Water-Cresses cannot be had, supply their Place, tho' it is but seldom used in the Shops."
James, R. (1752). Pharmacopoeia Universalis or a New Universal Dispensatory 2nd edit.,. London, J. Hodges. p.176

Geographical distribution

  • Asia-Temperate, China
  • Asia-Temperate, Eastern Asia, Japan
  • Asia-Temperate, Eastern Asia, Korea
  • Asia-Temperate, Middle Asia, Kazakhstan
  • Asia-Temperate, Mongolia
  • Asia-Temperate, Russian Far East
  • Asia-Temperate, Siberia
  • Europe, Eastern Europe
  • Europe, Middle Europe
  • Europe, Northern Europe
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Great Britain
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe
  • Northern America, Eastern Canada
  • Northern America, Northeastern U.S.A.
  • Northern America, Subarctic America, Greenland
  • Northern America, Western Canada, British Columbia

Cardamine pratensis L.

Family: BRASSICACEAE
Genus: Cardamine
Species: pratensis L.
Common names: Cuckoo Flower
Distribution summary: Europe
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: H5 - Hardy; cold winter
Habitat: Grassy sites: meadows, pastures, roadsides
Garden status: Not currently grown
Flowering months: February, March
Reason for growing: Other use


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