Corydalis micrantha
Fumariaceae
smallflower corydalis, smallflower fumewort
fumitory family
1-several, erect to prostrate-ascending, (1.5-)2-4(-6) dm.
when present leafy, erect to prostrate or climbing, simple or branching.
crowded, compound;
blade with 2 orders of leaflets and lobes; ultimate lobes ovate, oblong-elliptic, or obovate, margins incised, apex subapiculate.
basal and/or cauline, alternate, mostly compound, sometimes simple, without stipules, petiolate;
blade with 2-6 odd-pinnate orders of leaflets and/or lobes.
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, axillary, extra-axillary, or leaf-opposed, unifloral or else multifloral and thyrsoid, paniculate, racemose, or corymbose;
peduncles present;
bracts present.
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.
bilaterally symmetric about 1 plane or each of 2 perpendicular planes;
pedicel present;
sepals caducous or persistent, 2, thin;
petals 4, distinct or coherent basally to almost completely connate, in 2 whorls of 2;
outer petals alike or dissimilar, 1 or both sometimes swollen or spurred basally;
inner petals alike, apically connate, clawed, with somewhat hollow, membranous, wrinkled, abaxial median crests;
stamens 6, in 2 bundles of 3 each, opposite outer petals;
filaments of each bundle partially to completely connate, sometimes basally adnate to petals, with basal nectariferous tissue often in form of spur;
anthers connivent, adhering to stigma, median anthers 2-locular, lateral anthers 1-locular;
pistil 1, 2-carpellate;
ovary 1-locular;
placentae parietal;
style threadlike, rigid;
stigma 1, compressed, with 2 lobes or apical horns, and/or 2-8 papillar stigmatic surfaces.
capsular, indehiscent or dehiscent and valvate.
erect, linear, slender, straight to slightly incurved, 10-35 mm, essentially glabrous, usually shorter in cleistogamous-flowered racemes.
ca. 1.5 mm diam., concentrically and minutely decorated, marginal ring absent.
1-many, small, elaiosome (oil-bearing appendage) often present.
Corydalis micrantha
Fumariaceae
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.)
Genera 19, species ca. 450 (4 genera, 23 species in the flora).
The genera of Fumariaceae are distributed mostly in the Old World and primarily in temperate Eurasia. One acaulescent species of Dicentra occurs in Siberia, Kamchatka, and Japan; a caulescent species is found in western China and northern Burma; and nine climbing species are distributed throughout the Himalayan area and Burma. More than 400 taxa of Corydalis and 50 of Fumaria, distributed primarily throughout temperate, often montane, regions of Eurasia and Africa, have been described. Adlumia comprises only two species, which are quite similar morphologically, one from North America and the other from East Asia.
Most European and some American systematists treat Fumariaceae as a subfamily of Papaveraceae. However, although a few taxa are morphologically intermediate, the members of Fumariaceae generally are quite distinct from those of Papaveraceae in several respects, including floral symmetry, sap character, and stamen number and fusion.
(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 |
1. Petals almost completely connate, spongy; plants climbing, petiolules and reduced leaflets twining and tendril-like. | Adlumia |
1. Petals coherent or connate only basally, not spongy; plants not climbing. | → 2 |
2. Both outer petals swollen or spurred basally. | Dicentra |
2. Only 1 outer petal swollen or spurred basally. | → 3 |
3. Fruit an elongate, dehiscent capsule; seeds more than 1, with elaiosome. | Corydalis |
3. Fruit a ± globose, indehiscent capsule; seeds 1, without elaiosome. | Fumaria |
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