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Yellow Corydalis, Yellow Harlequin, Yellow Fumewort - Corydalis flavula


Family: Fumariaceae - Fumitory family Genus Common Name: Fumewort, Corydalis Native Status: NativeDicot Annual Herb Leaves:Alternate Leaves:Compound
Corydalis flavula - Yellow Corydalis, Yellow Harlequin, Yellow Fumewort.
Corydalis (Greek korydalis = "crested lark") is a large genus of over 400 species worldwide (most in China), with about 10 species in North America (Corydalis sempervirens has been reclassified as Capnoides semperviren.) A couple of those species are not native to North America. Some authorities now classify Corydalis (and even all genera in the Fumariaceae family) in the Papaveraceae (Poppy) family.

Corydalis flavula - Yellow Corydalis - is a plant of much of the eastern half of the United States outside of New England, and is also in a couple of provinces in Canada. It blooms with its tiny flowers in mid-spring to early summer.

Found in:
AL, AR, CT, DC, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV

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Corydalis flavula

Distribution of Corydalis flavula in the United States and Canada:
Map unavailable.
Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
Map color key

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Site: Lookout Mountain Conservancy, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, TN Date: 2019-March-25Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
The Yellow Corydalis flower is on a slender pedicel of about 1/4 inch. The flower has one spurred outer petal with a toothed or wrinkled crest and wings, and another unspurred outer petal which is otherwise similar to the spurred petal. Each of these petals are about .3 inch long, and are offset from each other making the flower slightly longer than either petal. There are also inner petals which are somewhat shorter than the outer petals.
Corydalis flavula

Site: Lookkout Mountain Conservancy, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, TN Date: 2019-March-25Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson
Nikon D7000
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
The tiny yellow flower of Corydalis flavula is less than 1/2 inch long, looking like little yellow sparks in the foliage.
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Corydalis flavula

Site: Lookout Mountain Conservancy, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, TN Date: 2019-March-25Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
The leaves of Corydalis flavula are alternate and compound. Each of the leaflets are lobed.
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Corydalis flavula

Site: Lookout Mountain Conservancy, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, TN Date: 2019-March-25Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Yellow Corydalis can have a simple stem, or it may be many-branching, as show here. While the stem usually starts erect, it may become prostate as the plant ages.
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Corydalis flavula

Site: Lookout Mountain Conservancy, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, TN Date: 2019-March-24Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
The plant may be erect with several stems arising from the somewhat succulent root. There may be as many as 6 or 8 flowers in each inflorescence.
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Corydalis flavula

Site: Lookout Mountain Conservancy, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, TN Date: 2019-March-24Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
This photo shows several of the hanging seed capsules. They are usually straight, but may be reflexed.
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Corydalis flavula

References used for identification and information:
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Corydalis flavula initially published on USWildflowers.com 2019-04-17; Updated 2019-04-17

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2024
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Code Update 20230302