Corydalis Vent.
Glabrous herbs. Lvs 2-3-pinnate, very rarely simple, usually ± glaucous. Only the upper petal spurred; fls yellow, white, reddish, pink, greenish or purplish. Ovules numerous. Fr. a 2-valved pod-like capsule with 2-many seeds.
c. 320 spp., N. temperate to alpine, especially Himalayas and China. Naturalised sp. 1.
In addition to the sp. treated below, the following 2 spp. sometimes establish freely and persist in old gardens, appearing as if naturalised: C. cheilanthifolia Hemsl. has a tufted habit, very dissected olive-green lvs, red bracts, and yellow corollas with green tips; C. ochroleuca Koch has 2-3-pinnate lvs, glaucous above and beneath, a narrowly winged petiole, and cream or white corollas with yellow tips to the inner petals.
