Cuckoo Flower Meaning

A bitter cress of europe and america.

Cuckoo flower meaning. Cuckooflower cardamine pratensis often known as lady s smock the pretty lilac flowers open around the time the cuckoo starts to call. Cuckoo flower used as a noun is rare. A bitter cress cardamine pratensis of eurasia and north america. Cuckooflower in american english.

The noun cuckoo flower has 2 senses. The flowers are usually veined with darker violet but in some areas pure white forms can be found. Any of various plants as the lady s smock or the ragged robin. Its pale pink flowers bloom from april to june and are thought to coincide with the arrival of the first cuckoo a sure sign that spring has arrived at last.

The specific name pratensis is latin for meadow how to pronounce cuckoo flower. Cuckoo flower so called because it is found in bloom when the cuckoo is heard this word is first recorded in the period 1570 80. It was used like salep orchid flour to make saloop working classes drink popular before the introduction of tea or coffee. Webster s new world college dictionary 4th edition.

Also ˈkʊkuˌflaʊər noun. Other words that entered english at around the same time include. Cardamine pratensis the cuckoo flower lady s smock mayflower or milkmaids is a flowering plant in the family brassicaceae native throughout most of europe and western asia the specific name pratensis is latin for meadow. Balloon deadhead huddle repeater skeleton examples of cuckooflower in a sentence.

It is an important food plant for the caterpillars of the orange tip and the green veined white butterfly. Cuckooflower also commonly known as lady s smock is a pretty springtime perennial of damp grassy places like wet meadows ditches and riverbanks as well as roadside verges. Common perennial native to europe and western asia having usually pink flowers with ragged petals. Word origin 1570 80.

Cuckoo flower cardamine pratensis is a flowering plant in the family brassicaceae native throughout most of europe and western asia.