Corydalis micrantha
Corydalis sempervirens
smallflower corydalis, smallflower fumewort
corydale toujours verte, harlequin-flower, pale corydalis, pink and yellow corydalis, pink corydalis, rock harlequin
1-several, erect to prostrate-ascending, (1.5-)2-4(-6) dm.
usually 1, erect, 0.5-8 dm, very glaucous.
crowded, compound;
blade with 2 orders of leaflets and lobes; ultimate lobes ovate, oblong-elliptic, or obovate, margins incised, apex subapiculate.
compound;
blade with 3-4 orders of leaflets and lobes; ultimate lobes oblong-elliptic, obtuse, 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.
terminal, racemose or paniculate, 1-8-flowered on each axis;
bracts inconspicuous, narrowly elliptic, 2-5 × 0.5-1 mm.
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 slender, 5-20 mm;
sepals ovate, short-attenuate, to 3 mm;
petals pink, tipped yellow; spurred petal 10-15 mm, spur blunt, 3-4 mm, crest absent, marginal wing relatively broad, revolute, unspurred outer petal 10-13 mm;
inner petals 9-12 mm, blade broadly obovate, with high, angular keel, claw slender, 6-8 mm; nectariferous spur 1/3 length of petal spur, blunt;
style ca. 4 mm;
stigma triangular, with 4 papillae.
erect, linear, slender, straight to slightly incurved, 10-35 mm, essentially glabrous, usually shorter in cleistogamous-flowered racemes.
erect, linear, straight, (25-)30-35(-50) mm.
ca. 1.5 mm diam., concentrically and minutely decorated, marginal ring absent.
ca. 1 mm diam., minutely decorated.
= 16.
Corydalis micrantha
Corydalis sempervirens
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 Iroquois used a decoction prepared from plants of Corydalis sempervirens medicinally to alleviate piles (D. E. Moerman 1986).
(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
MD Biodiversity
MI Flora
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