| Family: | Fumariaceae |
|---|---|
| Common name: | fumitory family sometimes placed in Papaveraceae [as in Zomlefer, p.48] |
| Diversity: | Worldwide: 16 genera; ~400 species U.S.: 3 genera PNW (Hitchcock & Cronquist): 3 genera |
| Flower -- Vegetative Features -- Economic Importance -- Flower Images-- Web Sites | |
| Flower | |
|---|---|
| K2 Co2+2 S4-6 P (2) | |
| Sexuality: | bisexual |
| Symmetry: | zygomorphic |
| Inflorescence: | usu. raceme |
| Calyx (sepals): | 2 small, deciduous |
| Corolla (petals): | 4 in a 2+2 arrangement, separate, outer pair have sac-like spurs |
| Androecium: | 4 or 6 stamens (3+3) |
| Gynoecium: | bicarpellate, united, superior (=hypogynous) |
| Fruit: | capsule or single-seeded nut |
| Other features: | nectar produced in spurs of outer petals some have ant-dispersed seeds |
| Vegetative Features | |
|---|---|
| brittle stem with watery juice | |
| Leaves: | alternate, dissected, basal rosettes or along stem (=cauline), exstipulate |
| Life-history: | annual to perennial |
| Habit: | herbs |
| Distribution & Ecology: | temperate regions of N. Hemisphere, mainly Old World |
| Some Northwest Genera: | Dicentra bleeding heart, dutchman's breeches Corydalis corydalis Fumaria fumitory |
| Economic Importance | |
|---|---|
| Crops: | |
| Ornamentals: | Dicentra formosa bleeding heart D. cucullaria dutchman's breeches |
| Weedy and pest species: | |
| Examples | Dicentra |
|---|---|
| Dicentra |
|
| Corydalis |
|
| click on the genus name for a flower image | |
Links to Other Web Sites
| Texas A & M Univ. Image Gallery |
A collection of images for plants in the Fumariaceae, listed alphabetically by genus. |
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