22 THE FUMITOKY FAMILY. [Fumwria. 



with two shallow pits at the top. Not uncommon in southern Europe, 

 and here and there over Britain and other parts of the area of the 

 species. 



d. F. parviflora, Lamk. (F. Vaillantii, Loisel., F. tenuisecta, Syme). 

 Leaf-segments narrow ; flowers scarcely 2 lines long, white, or rarely 

 red, sepals very small, sometimes quite minute ; nuts with two pits at 

 the top. Common in hot countries ; rare in Britain. A very distinct 

 form. 



II. CORYDALIS. CORYDAL. 



One of the outer petals has a pouch or spur at the base as in Fumaria, 

 but the fruit is a narrow pod, opening by two valves and containing 

 several seeds, bearing near their hilum a little crest-like appendage. 



The species are rather numerous, spread over Europe, temperate Asia, 

 and northern America. The two British ones belong to the section 

 Capnoides, in which the stems are branched and leafy, without tubers 

 to the root. C. solida, from continental Europe, often met with in our 

 flower-gardens, has occasionally remained from cultivation in groves 

 and shady places in some parts of England. It is a small plant, with 

 a tuberous rootstock, simple stems, and rather large purplish flowers, 

 belonging to the section Bulbocapnos. 



Stem short, erect, much branched. Flowers yellow . . 1. C. lutea. 



Stem long, slender, climbing. Flowers whitish . . . . 2. C. claviculata. 



1. C. lutea, DC. (fig. 46). Yellow C. — An erect or spreading plant, 6 

 or 8 inches high, either annual or forming a tufted stock of several years' 

 duration. Leaves delicate and pale green, much divided, the segments 

 ovate or wedge-shaped, and cut into 2 or 3 lobes. Flowers in short 

 racemes, pale yellow, about 6 lines long, with a short broad spur. Pod 

 3 or 4 lines long. 



In stony places, in southern Europe, but having been long cultivated 

 in flower-gardens it has become naturalised on old walls and rubbish 

 in northern Europe, as well as in some parts of England. Fl. summer. 



2. O. claviculata, DC. (fig. 47). Climbing G. — An annual with 

 slender intricate stems, 1 to 2 feet long, climbing by means of the leaf- 

 stalks, which usually terminate in delicate tendrils. Leaf-segments 

 small, ovate or oblong, and often toothed or cut. Racemes or spikes 

 short and compact at the extremity of the peduncles. Flowers small 

 white, with a slight yellow tinge, and a very short spur. Pod 2 or 3 

 lines long. 



In hilly districts and stony situations, in western Europe, penetrat- 

 ing eastward into northern Germany, and along the Mediterranean. 

 Widely distributed over Britain, most common in western and northern 

 England and southern Scotland, rare in Ireland. Fl. summer. 



VI. CRUCIFERJE. THE CKUCIFER FAMILY. 



Herbs, or rarely undershrubs, with alternate leaves and no 

 stipules ; the flowers in terminal racemes, which are generally 

 very short or reduced to a corymb when the flowering com- 



