Corydalis micrantha
Corydalis pauciflora
smallflower corydalis, smallflower fumewort
blue corydalis, few-flower corydalis, fewflower fumewort
1-several, erect to prostrate-ascending, (1.5-)2-4(-6) dm.
usually 1-3, erect, mostly 0.8-2 dm, often with 1-2 basal scales.
crowded, compound;
blade with 2 orders of leaflets and lobes; ultimate lobes ovate, oblong-elliptic, or obovate, margins incised, apex subapiculate.
2-5, simple;
blade with 2 orders of lobes; ultimate lobes elliptic.
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.
terminal, racemose, 3-5-flowered, flowers crowded at summit of stout peduncle;
bracts inconspicuous, ovate to obovate, 4-10 × 3-5 mm, proximal bract largest.
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, 4-10 mm;
sepals caducous, 1-2 × 1-2 mm, margins variously dentate;
petals blue, often tinged purple; spurred petal 17-20 mm, spur abruptly incurved near apex, 7-10 mm, crest low, extending to apex, marginal wing narrow, unspurred outer petal 10-12 mm, margins revolute;
inner petals 8-10 mm, blade obovate, claw slender, ca. 4-5 mm; nectariferous spur clavate, 2/3-3/4 length of petal spur;
style ca. 2 mm;
stigma 4-lobed, rhomboid, narrower toward base.
erect, linear, slender, straight to slightly incurved, 10-35 mm, essentially glabrous, usually shorter in cleistogamous-flowered racemes.
reflexed, ellipsoid to obovoid, ca. 12 × 5 mm.
ca. 1.5 mm diam., concentrically and minutely decorated, marginal ring absent.
essentially smooth.
= 16.
Corydalis micrantha
Corydalis pauciflora
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.)
This distinctive species is the only blue-flowered member of the genus in the flora area. It is an essentially Asiatic species whose distribution extends across the Bering Strait into North America.
(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
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
BC
PNW Herbaria
