128 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



a wingless, grub-like lady of its own species. This 

 is a good way to procure these wingless female moths, 

 which otherwise would not be found, for they are 

 strange "stay-at-homes," often remaining altogether 

 on the cocoon from which they have emerged, 

 patiently awaiting the advent of a sweetheart. 



158 Arkwright Street, Nottingham. 



ON SOME SWISS SPECIES OF CORYDALIS. 



AMONG the early March and April flowers which 

 carpet the lower slopes of the Swiss pastures, 

 orchards, and valleys, the several species of Corydalis 

 are truly remarkable. As soon as the grass begins 

 to grow, and that marked change in verdure takes 

 place which is a herald of the early Swiss spring, 

 thousands of shoots appear from the hidden bulbs of 

 the Corydalis. Rapidly the leaves expand, and the 

 flower-spikes unfold, covering the meadow with 





of C. solida are sweet-scented, the other is scentless. 

 All Swiss species of Corydalis are bulbous with the 

 exception of C. lutea, a species growing on old walls 

 surrounding the vineyards, in warm and sunny situa- 

 tions. 



There should be little difficulty in distinguishing 

 between the genera Fumaria and Corydalis : the 



Fig. 81. — Corydalis cava. 



delicate blossoms of the most varied shades of colour 

 — crimson, purple, pink, cream or pure white, stand- 

 ing in great contrast to the blue-green of the deeply 

 cut glaucous leaves. On the undulating slopes, 

 beneath walnut, apple, or chestnut, the surface of 

 the ground is literally a blaze of colour, so thickly 

 grows the Corydalis ; and this is before March has 

 given place to the more genial April. 



Corydalis cava is the species so commonly dis- 

 tributed in Canton Vaud, while the C. solida, a plant 

 even more attractive and graceful, is characteristic of 

 Canton Valais. The two species are frequently 

 confused, but can be readily distinguished if com- 

 pared with each other. The most evident distinction 

 lies in the shape of the bracts, which are digitate as 

 regards C. solida, and entire in C. cava ; the flowers 



former has silicules, the latter siliques ; in this respect 

 the order Fumariacex borders on the cruciferous 

 plants. 



Genus Corydalis, DC. : sepals 2, dehiscent ; 

 corolla, 4 petals, irregular, hypogenous, connivent ; 

 the two lateral ones joined at the summit, the superior 

 one prolonged into a spur ; stamens 6, hypogenous, 

 in two groups ; anthers prominent, the two lateral 

 ones in each group i-lobed, the centre one 2 lobed ; 

 ovary free, i-celled ; styles joined in one filiform 

 column ; stigma bilobed ; fruit a silique, 2-valved, 

 many-seeded ; grains shiny or black. Eeaves alter- 

 nate, without stipules ; flowers with bracts. Plants 

 perennial. 



a. root bulbous, stem simple. 



j8. root fibrous, stem branched. 



