SafePlants

Yellow Fumewort (Corydalis flavula)

Corydalis flavula, commonly known as Yellow Fumewort, Yellow Harlequin, or Yellow Fumitory, is a fascinating annual or short-lived perennial plant belonging to the poppy order.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Corydalis flavula (Raf.) DC.
• Synonyms:
  • Capnoides flavulum (Raf.) Kuntze
  • Fumaria flavula Raf.
• Family: Fumariaceae (Fumitory Family), sometimes classified in Papaveraceae.
• Kingdom: Plantae

Distribution and Habitat

• Yellow Fumewort is found in forested floodplains and ravines.
• It's referenced in areas like Michigan and the Southern Appalachian region.

Morphological Characteristics

• It is a small, sprawling annual forb, typically 10-30 cm in height.
• The leaves are dissected and often glaucous (covered with a whitish or bluish waxy coating).
• The flowers are pale yellow with a short spur, held in a cluster.
• The foliage is often described as fern-like.

Ecological Role

• The presence of Yellow Fumewort is sometimes noted following the removal of invasive shrubs, suggesting it might benefit from increased light availability or reduced competition.

Quirky Facts

• Yellow Fumewort is an early spring ephemeral, which means it grows, flowers, and sets seed during a brief period before the trees fully leaf out. Most spring ephemerals are perennials, making Yellow Fumewort’s annual or short-lived perennial habit somewhat unusual.

Further Information

• Michigan Natural Features Inventory: P.O. Box 30444 - Lansing, MI 48909-7944. Phone: 517-373-1552
• Discover Life provides information on the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Corydalis flavula.
• Wikimedia Commons hosts images of Corydalis flavula.
• USDA PLANTS Database has information and images.