Corydalis lutea
Encyclopedia
Pseudofumaria lutea is a short-lived perennial plant
native to the southern foothills of the south-western and central Alps
of Italy
and Switzerland
, but widely introduced elsewhere.
are finely divided and yellow-green to gray-green, often remaining over winter.
Flower
s are 2 cm (¾ in) long, borne in raceme
s on short, branched, leafy stems from late spring to autumn. They have 4 petals, the top and bottom ones crested, the top one with a short, rounded spur curved downwards, the 2 inner ones connected at the tip.
Seed
s, dark brown with white elaiosome
s, are held in oval, flat pods
. Plants self-seed abundantly.
4). It does best in light shade with good moisture, but will tolerate both full sun and deep shade. It grows wild in cracks in old walls where drainage is excellent.
Perennial plant
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. The term is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter lived annuals and biennials. The term is sometimes misused by commercial gardeners or horticulturalists to describe only herbaceous perennials...
native to the southern foothills of the south-western and central Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, but widely introduced elsewhere.
Characteristics
Yellow corydalis grows to 30–38 cm (12–15 in) tall. LeavesLeaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
are finely divided and yellow-green to gray-green, often remaining over winter.
Flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s are 2 cm (¾ in) long, borne in raceme
Raceme
A raceme is a type of inflorescence that is unbranched and indeterminate and bears pedicellate flowers — flowers having short floral stalks called pedicels — along the axis. In botany, axis means a shoot, in this case one bearing the flowers. In a raceme, the oldest flowers are borne...
s on short, branched, leafy stems from late spring to autumn. They have 4 petals, the top and bottom ones crested, the top one with a short, rounded spur curved downwards, the 2 inner ones connected at the tip.
Seed
Seed
A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant...
s, dark brown with white elaiosome
Elaiosome
Elaiosomes are fleshy structures that are attached to the seeds of many plant species. The elaiosome is rich in lipids and proteins, and may be variously shaped. Many plants have elaiosomes to attract ants, which take the seed to their nest and feed the elaiosome to their larvae...
s, are held in oval, flat pods
Capsule (fruit)
In botany a capsule is a type of simple, dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. A capsule is a structure composed of two or more carpels that in most cases is dehiscent, i.e. at maturity, it splits apart to release the seeds within. A few capsules are indehiscent, for example...
. Plants self-seed abundantly.
Cultivation
Yellow Corydalis is hardy to –34°C (-30°F; hardiness zoneHardiness zone
A hardiness zone is a geographically defined area in which a specific category of plant life is capable of growing, as defined by climatic conditions, including its ability to withstand the minimum temperatures of the zone...
4). It does best in light shade with good moisture, but will tolerate both full sun and deep shade. It grows wild in cracks in old walls where drainage is excellent.
External links
- Germplasm Resources Information Network
- PlantFiles (Corydalis lutea)
- Flora Europaea
- Missouri Botanical Garden (Corydalis lutea)
- UK Wildflowers
- Paghat's Garden (Corydalis lutea)
- USDA PLANTS Profile Botanischer Garten Bochum (Corydalis lutea)