“Pa 
16 FUMARIACEZ (Harv.) [Cysticapnos. 
A small group, often considered as a suborder of Papaveracee, which they closely 
approach in technical characters, but from which they differ very much in aspect, , 
and in sensible properties. They are completely destitute of the narcotic juices so 
characteristic of Papaveracee ; and their flowers (except in Hypecoum ) are highly 
irregular. Each parcel of stamens consists of one whole and two half stamens ; 
the normal number is therefore four, not six ; but the latter is the apparent num- 
ber, except in Hypecoum. They are chiefly natives of the Northern Temperate zone, 
especially of the Eastern Hemisphere. About 120 species, grouped under 12 (or 
15) genera are known to Botanists. Of the four South African genera, two 
( Cysticapnos and Discocapnos ) are peculiar to the Cape. Corydalis and Fumaria are 
nearly cosmopolitan. None are of much importance to mankind but several are 
cultivated in Europe as ornamental plants. 
TABLE OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN GENERA. 
* Fruit a many-seeded, dehiscent capsule. 
I. Cysticapnos.—Capsule bladdery, sub-globose. 
Il. Corydalis.—Capsule lanceolate, compressed. 
** Fruit a one-seeded, indehiscent utricle. 
, IIT, Discocapnos.— Utricle flattened, orbicular. 
IV, Fumaria.— Utricle subglobose. 
2 I. CYSTICAPNOS, Boerh. 
Petals 4, the posterior one spurred at base. Se nie 2-valved, 
bladdery ; epicarp inflated, spongy within ; endocarp delicately mem- 
\ branous, supported by slender filaments in the centre of the cavity, 
and bearing, at the margins, many seeded placenta. Seeds compressed, 
beaked, shining. DC. Prod. 1. p. 126. 
A succulent climbing herb, with decompound cirrhiferous leaves, peculiar to the 
Cape. The seed bag is curiously suspended within an inflated membranous capsule 
by means of cords, Name from xvotis a bladder and xanvos, smoke, or (MD 
botanical language) the herb Fumitory. 
1. C. africana, (Gaertn. Fruct. 2. p. 161. t. 115) ; DC. Syst. 2. p. 112. 
Prod. 1. p. 126. E.& Z.! No. 21. Fumaria vesicaria, Thunb. Cap. 
P- 554 
Haz. In bushy places. Common near Capetown. Stellenbosch and Zwellen- 
dam, #. & Z. / (Herb. T.C.D., Hook., Sond.) 
Annual. Stem voluble, very long, climbing through bushes, irregularly branched. 
Leaves pinnately decompound, ending in a branched tendril ; pairs of pinne about 
three, the lowest pair close to the stem, stalked, once or twice ternate, with broadly 
cuneate and deeply lobed segments. Peduncles opposite the leaves, gradually 
lengthening. Flowers white. Sepals 2, deltoid, acuminate, cordate at base, 
toothed or entire. C; pendulous, an inch in diameter, globose, 
thon pestly: Silo sine mt ett —— = spongy on the inside, the inflated por- 
Petals 4, the posterior one spurred at base. Capsule podshaped, com- 
pressed, one celled, bivalve ; valves separating from a_ persistent, 
placentiferous replum of frame.) Seeds numerous, lenticular, beaked. 
ides 1.p.126. Phacocapnos, Bernh. Linn. 12. p. 664. Endl. Gen. 
or ‘ : e ; ace 
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