Flower identification please (1/2)

[Andrew]

I found this flower on the local canal and can not identify it in my Collins Wild Guide book on flowers. Please help.

:brains:

[steve_nova]

Looks like a Cardamine. Not exactly sure of which species (definately not that obnoxious garden weed Hairy Bittercress Cardamine hirsuta!) could be C. pratensis the Cuckoo flower.

[steve_nova]

Cuckoo flower loves moist or even wet saturated soils so this would certainly ring true next to a canal.
The flower colour is variable ranging from mid purple to pale lilac and white as in this form.

[Andrew]

I looked at Cuckoo flower and it is very similar but my book has none of the thin reddish pointy things. What are these?

[steve_nova]

Hi Andrew. The thin red pointy things are the fruit capsules extending after fertilization of the flower. When ripe, the two outer walls spring back with some force against the central strip, flinging the double row of seeds in all directions.

[steve_nova]

Books often don't show that, often only showing the very first flowers in the spike opening with the rest in bud.

[Andrew]

Wow, that's interesting to know. I was going to post all this in a picture int he gallery but the focus on the flower is not all too good.

[cjay]

Cardamine pratensis. Check the flowers & seed capsules for Orange Tip Butterfly eggs or larvae.