| In times past this family of plants was considered a part of the Poppy Family. That is no longer the case and some members have been separated into a group of their own. It was not that the family had grown to such size as to warrant its division into sub-families, but merely that times, conditions and classifications are rapidly changing. |
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(Corydalis flavula)  |
As best can be determined the Golden Corydalis is the
only member of the family that resides in the Escambia region.
This is pri- marily a winter annual which parsley-like leaves form a rosette at the ground. The root system sends up a flower stalk and a cluster of small, sharp-pointed leaves will appear at the tip of it. The plant proceeds to develop its flower cluster, while the leaves step aside until that job is complete. After establishing the tiny florets, which given time will mature and also fall away, the leaves then begin to assert themselves to produce a healthy plant that resembles a geranium. |
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In most cases the flower stem stands erect but it is known to recline and sprawl along the ground. The leaf and stem are covered with a whitish powder (similar to a cabbage leaf) during its bloom cycle. There are at least five species occurring on the Coastal Plain. The smallest is known as Yellow Harlequin. A pink variety found outside the Escambia is frequent in the Piedmont regions of Georgia and Alabama. Other members of the Fumitory family reside on the Coastal Plain, but outside the Escambia, are Dutchman's Breeches, Squirrel Corn and Bleeding Heart. |