Dicentra canadensis
Fumariaceae
dicentre du Canada, squirrel-corn
fumitory family
when present leafy, erect to prostrate or climbing, simple or branching.
(10-)14-24(-30) × (4-)6-14(-18) cm;
petiole (5-)8-16(-22) cm;
blade with 4 orders of leaflets and lobes;
abaxial surface glaucous; ultimate lobes linear to linear-elliptic or linear-obovate, (2-)5-15(-23) × (0.4-)2-4 mm, usually minutely apiculate.
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, 3-12-flowered, usually exceeding leaves, (10-)15-27(-33) cm;
bracts ovate, 2-5 × 1-3 mm.
terminal, axillary, extra-axillary, or leaf-opposed, unifloral or else multifloral and thyrsoid, paniculate, racemose, or corymbose;
peduncles present;
bracts present.
pendent, very fragrant;
pedicels (2-)3-7(-14) mm;
sepals triangular to ovate, 2-4 × 1-2 mm, apex acuminate;
petals white;
outer petals (10-)12-16(-20) × (2-)4-5(-8) mm, reflexed portion 3-5 mm;
inner petals (10-)12-15(-18) mm, blade 2-4 mm, claw linear-elliptic, 5-9 mm, crest prominent, ca. 2 mm diam., exceeding apex by ca. 2 mm;
filaments of each bundle distinct nearly to base; nectariferous tissue forming 0.5-1 mm spur oriented vertically;
style 4-7 mm;
stigma shallowly 2-horned with 2 lateral 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.
ovoid, attenuate at both ends, (5-)9-13(-17) × 3-6 mm.
slightly reniform, very obscurely reticulate, elaiosome present.
1-many, small, elaiosome (oil-bearing appendage) often present.
Dicentra canadensis
Fumariaceae
See discussion under the following species.
(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. 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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