Golden Corydalis Corydalis aurea Poppy/Dicentra family (Papaveraceae)
Golden Corydalis appears at first glance to belong to the Pea Family, but it does not. Corydalis is not common in our area, but its numerous golden-yellow, spurred, tubular flowers attract attention and make it a treat when found. Look for it in disturbed areas of the mountains.
"Corydalis" is of ancient Greek origin and apparently refers to the spur on the of a Lark ("Larkspur"). "Aurea" is Latin for "golden."
, 3-11" tall, with bright yellow flowers and fern-like leaves. Flowers are yellow, 2-lipped with upper spur-like petal, arranged in tight clusters that (). , 2-4 times into segments. are curved pod-like , constricted between seeds and often curving upwards.
A leaf is compound when multiple leaflets are on the same stem.
linear -- Long and very narrow like a blade of grass.
A herb is a plant whose stems die back to the ground in the winter.
capsule -- a type of simple, dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. In
most cases the capsule splits apart to release seeds.
fruit -- any seed-bearing structure in flowering plants.
It is formed from the ovary after flowering.
pinnate -- A compound leaf with two rows of leaflets.
biennial -- a plant which lives for two years, producing a basal rosette of leaves
the first year and a full plant, flower, and seed the second year followed by
the death of the entire plant at the end of the second year.
elongate -- long and thin, slender.
claw -- is the narrow, stalk-like basal portion of a petal, sepal or bract.
A raceme is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers
having short floral stalks along its axis.
leaves alternate along the main stem and are attached singly.
