THE FUMITORY FAMILY 
[ORDER V. FUMARIACE^E] 
T HE genera of this family which are represented in the British Isles are easily 
recognised by their clusters of irregular flowers, having 2 scale-like sepals, 4 petals 
in unequal pairs, and 6 stamens in 2 bundles. 
It is a small family of delicate smooth herbs found in the temperate parts of the world. It is 
but little cultivated, one of the best known cultivated genera being the graceful Dielytra. 
CORYDALIS. (NECKERIA, SCOP.) — Flowers terminal, small, growing in close succession up 
the stem (raceme). Sepals 2, scale-like ; petals 4, the uppermost of the larger pair with a spur or 
pouch at the base ; the smaller and inner pair narrow, joining at their tips ; stamens 6, united by 
their filaments into 2 bundles of 3 stamens each ; carpels 2. Fruit a narrow, pod-like capsule, 
opening by 2 valves, seeds many. Herbs with brittle stems and much-divided leaves. 
White Climbing- Corydalis. (Neekeria claviculata, N.E.Br.)— The only native 
British species (as just described). The flowers small, yellowish-white, with a very short spur. 
The stem slender, climbing ; the leaves with a bluish bloom (glaucous), each divided from the 
mid rib into 3 or 4 pairs of distinct, stalked leaflets (pinnate), and ending in a branched tendril, 
by means of which the plant climbs on bushes to the height of several feet, each leaflet being 
divided from the base into 3 leaflets (palmate). \Plate 8. 
Common. Hilly districts, stony or rocky places. April — July. Annual. 
Two other species, not natives, are to be met with occasionally, the Bulbous Corydalis 
(Neekeria bulbosa, N.E.Br.), with largish purple flowers, an unbranched (simple) stem, no 
tendrils, and a bulbous root ; and the Yellow Corydalis (Neekeria lutea, Scop.), with bright 
yellow flowers, many short stems, and no tendrils. 
FUMITORY. (FUMARIA, LINN .) — This is a similar genus to Corydalis, differing in the sepals 
being larger and broader and in the seed being a round 1 -seeded nut which decays to free the 
seed. Although in the early stages the seedcase (ovary) contains 2 seeds (ovules), only one 
develops. 
Rampant Fumitory. (Fumaria capreolata, Linn. ; F. pallidiflora, Jord. ; F. 
Borsei, Jord. ; F. confusa, Jord. ; and F. muralis, Sonder.)— As just described. Flowers 
cream or pink, tipped with crimson-purple or purplish-rose colour, the sepals being egg-shaped, 
with toothed (serrate) margins, coloured like petals (petaloid). Fruit a roundish 1 -seeded nut 
varying in length and breadth. The stem climbing by means of the twisting leaf-stalks, and the 
