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Corydalis (Old Greek name)
(the old Greek name for the Fumitory; from korydalos, a lark; the spur of the flower resembles the spur of a lark). ORD. Fumariaceoe. A genus of very pretty, smooth, usually glaucous herbs. Racemes terminal or opposite the leaves, with a bract under each pedicel; petals four, the two outer larger, one or both gibbous or spurred, often coherent, in two usually very dissimilar pairs. Leaves much divided, alternate, sub-opposite at the tips. Roots fusiform, tuberous, or fibrous. There are about seventy species. They are well adapted for borders and rockwork; and some of them will thrive well under trees, if the ground be not too dry. The method of culture is exceedingly simple. they are increased by dividing the plants directly after flowering, or by seed; the bulbous rooted species by offsets; and the annuals by seed, which may be sown in spring where they are intended to remain. C. aurea (golden). fl. golden-yellow, 1/2in. long; spur blunt, shorter than pedicel. May to July. l. glaucous, bipinnate; pinnae pinnatifid and cut; lobes oblong-linear. Stem diffuse, branched. h. 6in. United States, 1683. Annual or biennial. (B. R. 66.) C. bracteata (bracteate).* fl. sulphur-yellow, horizontal, 1in. long; spur longer than the pedicel. May, June. l. two, biternate; segments cleft into linear lobes. Stem simple, erect, scaly near the base. h. 9in. Siberia, 1823. Hardy perennial.
C. bulbosa (bulbous). A synonym of C. solida.
C. cava (hollow-rooted).* fl. purple, horizontal; bracts ovate, entire. February to May. l. two, biternate; segments cuneated, cleft. Stem simple, not scaly. h. 6in. Europe, 1596. Perennial. SYN. C. tuberosa. (B. M. 232.) C. c. albiflora (white-flowered).* Similar in every respect, except the pretty white flowers.
C. claviculata (tendrilled). fl. straw-coloured; spur short, and blunt. June. l. bipinnate; petioles tendrilled; segments oval, and entire. Stem branched, diffuse, scandent. h. 1ft. to 4ft. West Europe (Britain), from Denmark to Spain. Annual. (Sy. En. B. 70.) C. fungosa. See Adlumia cirrhosa.
C. glauca (glaucous). fl. red and yellow; spur blunt, one-half or three times shorter than the corolla. July. l. bipinnate, glaucous; pinnae somewhat pinnatifid; segments stalked, cuneated, trifid. Stem erect, branched. h. 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. Canada, 1683. Annual. (B. M. 179.) C. Kolpakowskiana (Kolpakowsky's).* fl. pink or purple, with long spurs; bracts as long as the pedicels. l. glabrous, deeply divided. h. 6in. Turkestan, 1879. Perennial. (R. G. 948.) C. Ledebouriana (Ledebour's). fl. pinkish, with a dark spot at the apex of the sepals. l. ternately divided, glaucous. h. 6in. Altai, 1879. Perennial. (R. G. 981.) C. lutea (yellow).* fl. yellow; bracts linear-subulate, three times shorter than the pedicel. May. l. biternate; segments obovate, cuneated, trifid. Stem branched, diffuse. h. 1ft. Europe, naturalised in Britain (on old walls, &c.). Perennial.
C. Marschalliana (Marschall's).* fl. sulphur-coloured; spur straight or hardly incurved, blunt; bracts ovate. April. l. two, situated above the middle of the stem, biternate; lobes oval, entire or bifid. h. 9in. Tauria, 1823. Perennial. C. nobilis (noble-flowered).* fl. pale yellow, tipped with green; spur long, blunt and incurved at the point; bracts acute, entire or cut. May. l. bipinnate; segments cuneated, cut at the top. Stem simple, erect, not scaly. h. 9in. Siberia, 1783. A beautiful perennial plant.
C. Semenowii (Semenow's).* fl. deep yellow; spur short, saccate, bent downwards. April, May. l. glaucous, green, bipinnatisect; pinnules oblong ovate; lobes acuminate. Stem erect, simple, leafy. h. 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. Turkestan.
C. sibirica (Siberian). fl. yellow, usually recurved; bracts linear, nearly as long as the pedicels. June. l. somewhat glaucous, bipinnate; segments cut into oblong-linear lobes. Stem nearly erect, branched. h. 1ft. to 3ft. Siberia, 1810. Perennial.
C. solida (solid).* fl. purplish, large. April, May. l. three or four, stalked, biternate; segments cuneated or oblong, and, as well as the bracts, cut at the top. Stem simple, erect, scaly under the lower leaf. h. 6in. Europe, naturalised in Britain (in woods and rather humid places). Perennial. SYN. C. bulbosa.
C. tuberosa (tuberous). A synonym of C. cava.