Pseudofumaria lutea

Yellow Corydalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Flowering plants
(unranked):	Eudicots
Order:	Ranunculales
Family:	Fumariaceae
Genus:	Pseudofumaria
Species:	P. lutea
Binomial name
Pseudofumaria lutea (L.) Borkh.
Synonyms
Corydalis lutea (L.) DC.

Pseudofumaria lutea (syn. Corydalis lutea; Yellow Corydalis) is a short-lived perennial plant native to the southern foothills of the south-western and central Alps of Italy and Switzerland, but widely introduced elsewhere.

Characteristics

Yellow corydalis grows to 30–38 cm (12–15 in) tall. Leaves are finely divided and yellow-green to gray-green, often remaining over winter.

Flowers are 2 cm (¾ in) long, borne in racemes on short, branched, leafy stems from late spring to autumn. They have 4 petals, the top and bottom ones crested, the top one with a short, rounded spur curved downwards, the 2 inner ones connected at the tip.

Seeds, dark brown with white elaiosomes, are held in oval, flat pods. Plants self-seed abundantly.

Cultivation

Yellow Corydalis is hardy to –34°C (-30°F; hardiness zone 4). It does best in light shade with good moisture, but will tolerate both full sun and deep shade. It grows wild in cracks in old walls where drainage is excellent.

External links

• Germplasm Resources Information Network
• PlantFiles (Corydalis lutea)
• Flora Europaea
• Missouri Botanical Garden (Corydalis lutea)
• UK Wildflowers
• Paghat's Garden (Corydalis lutea)
• USDA PLANTS Profile
• (German) Botanischer Garten Bochum (Corydalis lutea)