Corydalis micrantha
Corydalis crystallina
smallflower corydalis, smallflower fumewort
mealy corydalis, mealy fumewort
1-several, erect to prostrate-ascending, (1.5-)2-4(-6) dm.
1-several, erect or ascending, 2-4 dm.
crowded, compound;
blade with 2 orders of leaflets and lobes; ultimate lobes ovate, oblong-elliptic, or obovate, margins incised, apex subapiculate.
compound;
blade with 2 orders of leaflets and lobes; ultimate lobes lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, margins incised, apex subapiculate.
racemose, (6-)10-16(-20)-flowered, primary racemes slightly to conspicuously exceeding leaves, secondary racemes fewer flowered, exceeded by leaves, cleistogamous-flowered racemes frequently present, 1-5-flowered, inconspicuous;
bracts elliptic to attenuate-ovate, 5-8 × 2-4 mm, margins denticulate, distal bracts usually much reduced, those of cleistogamous racemes minute.
racemose, (8-)12-15(-18)-flowered, primary racemes exceeding leaves, later secondary racemes fewer flowered, exceeded by leaves;
bracts ovate to ovate-acuminate, 5-12 × 3-6 mm, distal usually much reduced.
erect or spreading;
pedicel 2-6 mm;
sepals ovate, to 1.5 mm, margins often sinuate or dentate;
petals pale to medium yellow; spurred petal slightly to strongly curved, (11-)12-14(-15) mm, spur straight, 4-7 mm, apex obtuse or ± globose, crest low, wrinkled, rarely obsolescent, marginal wing well developed, sometimes revolute, unspurred outer petal slightly bent, 9-11 mm, crest low;
inner petals oblanceolate, 7-10 mm, blade apex 2 times or more wider than base, basal lobes obscure, claw 3-4 mm; nectariferous spur straight or curved, sometimes clavate, ca. 3/5 length of petal spur;
style ca. 4 mm;
stigma rectangular, 2-lobed, 1/2 as long as wide, with 8 papillae.
erect;
pedicel stout, ca. 1 mm;
sepals broadly ovate to cordate, somewhat attenuate, to 2 mm, margins sometimes incised;
petals bright yellow; spurred petal 16-22 mm, spur straight, 6-8 mm, apex distinctly globose, crest very high, wrinkled or toothed, marginal wing very broad, revolute, unspurred outer petal 12-14 mm, marginal wing broad, not revolute, enclosing margins of spurred petal in bud;
inner petals oblanceolate, 9-11 mm, blade apex ca. 2 times wider than base, basal lobes small, claw narrow, 4-5 mm; nectariferous spur clavate, 3.5-5 mm, curved near apex;
style slender, ca. 4 mm;
stigma wider than long, with 8 papillae.
erect, linear, slender, straight to slightly incurved, 10-35 mm, essentially glabrous, usually shorter in cleistogamous-flowered racemes.
erect, linear, stout, straight to slightly incurved, 14-18 mm, with numerous basally pustulate whitish hairs or rarely glabrate.
ca. 1.5 mm diam., concentrically and minutely decorated, marginal ring absent.
ca. 2 mm diam., minutely decorated, marginal ring absent.
Corydalis micrantha
Corydalis crystallina
Subspecies 3 (3 in the flora).
Corydalis micrantha can be distinguished readily from other yellow-flowered North American species by its very small seeds. Cleistogamy is encountered regularly in C. micrantha. A single plant from any part of the range may have only cleistogamous flowers, only chasmogamous flowers, or both types. Plants having only cleistogamous flowers usually are much more profusely and delicately branched. In C. micrantha, at least, shade and age appear to play roles in the initiation of cleistogamy.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
The peculiar pubescence of the capsules distinguishes Corydalis crystallina from all others in the genus. Also, the crest and marginal wing of the spurred petal are more highly developed than in any other yellow-flowered species.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Racemes of chasmogamous flowers not greatly exceeding leaves, often short; petal spur ± globose at apex; capsules often stout, commonly 10–15 mm. | subsp. micrantha |
1. Racemes of chasmogamous flowers often greatly exceeding leaves, elongate; petal spur blunt, not globose at apex; capsules slender, commonly 15–30 mm. | → 2 |
2. Stems usually weak; capsules commonly 15–20 mm. | subsp. australis |
2. Stems usually stout; capsules commonly 21–35 mm. | subsp. texensis |
IL Wildflowers
KS Wildflowers
LA Plants
MN Wildflowers
MO Plants
WildflowerSearch
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USDA Plants Database
