Corydalis micrantha
Corydalis scouleri
smallflower corydalis, smallflower fumewort
Scouler's corydalis, Scouler's fumewort, western corydalis
1-several, erect to prostrate-ascending, (1.5-)2-4(-6) dm.
1 or more, mostly 5-10 dm.
crowded, compound;
blade with 2 orders of leaflets and lobes; ultimate lobes ovate, oblong-elliptic, or obovate, margins incised, apex subapiculate.
ca. 3, compound, 10 cm or more;
blade with 3 orders of leaflets and lobes; ultimate lobes broadly elliptic or less commonly ovate to obovate with rounded apex, sometimes narrowly elliptic with acute apex, 1-8 × 0.5-4 cm, minutely apiculate.
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.
axillary or terminal, racemose or paniculate, 15-35-flowered on primary axis;
bracts inconspicuous, proximal bracts narrowly elliptic, distal linear and 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 2-5 mm;
sepals caducous, ovate to broadly lanceolate, 1-2 mm, margins lacerate or dentate;
petals light to deep pink; spurred petal usually somewhat curved, 20-25 mm, spur lanceoloid, 14-20 mm, crest well developed, usually exceeding petal apices, marginal wing absent; unspurred outer petal boat-shaped, 12-15 mm;
inner petals not tipped deep red or purple, usually 9-11 mm, blade much wider at apex, claw slender, equaling blade in length; nectariferous spur 1/2-2/3 length of petal spur, bent or hooked at apex;
style ca. 3 mm;
stigma roughly triangular, with 2 apical and 2 lateral papillae.
erect, linear, slender, straight to slightly incurved, 10-35 mm, essentially glabrous, usually shorter in cleistogamous-flowered racemes.
reflexed, obovoid, 10-15 × 4-5 mm.
ca. 1.5 mm diam., concentrically and minutely decorated, marginal ring absent.
ca. 3.5 mm diam., with numerous small protuberances.
= ca. 130.
Corydalis micrantha
Corydalis scouleri
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.)
Corydalis scouleri is restricted to cool, wet habitats from northwestern Oregon northward to Vancouver Island. It is most easily distinguished from Corydalis caseana by the usually highly developed crests and absence of wings on its outer petals. The stigma is essentially triangular (versus rectangular in C. caseana), and the capsule shape (typically obovoid) is rarely approached in C. caseana.
(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
BC
OR
WA
Flora NW
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