Corydalis solida

Corydalis solida, fumewort or bird-in-a-bush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Papaveraceae, native to moist, shady habitats in northern Europe and Asia. Growing to 25 cm (10 in), it is a spring ephemeral, with foliage that appears in spring and dies down to its tuberous rootstock in summer. It is cultivated for its deeply divided, ferny leaves and narrow, long-spurred flowers which appear in spring. The flowers show color variation, and may be mauve, purple, red, or white.

Description

A perennial plant. It grows 2-30 cm high and 15-20 cm wide. It has a tuber. The leaves are like feathers. The flowers occur on upright spikes. They tilt and the spurs turn down. They can be white to reddish-purple. The fruit is like a capsule and contains many seeds.

Edible Uses

The root is edible after boiling and is rich in starch. Some caution is advised, as there is a report that the plant is toxic.

Traditional Uses

CAUTION: It contains alkaloids. The root has the bitter element removed and is then used as a famine food to extend bread flour.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

Fumewort has been used as a painkiller in Chinese medicine for over 1,000 years. The tuber is anodyne, antibacterial, antispasmodic, hallucinogenic, nervine, and sedative. It is taken internally as a sedative for insomnia and as a stimulant and painkiller, particularly for painful menstruation, traumatic injury, and lumbago. It is also used to lower blood pressure, and research suggests it has an action on the thyroid and adrenal cortex. The tuber should not be prescribed for pregnant women. Tubers are harvested during dormancy and dried for later use.

Known Hazards

There is a report that the plant is toxic.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It is frost hardy. It will grow in most moist, well-drained soils. It needs an open sunny position. It is resistant to frost but damaged by drought. It suits hardiness zones 5-9.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, China, Europe*, Luxembourg, Russia, Slovenia,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seeds or by division.

Propagation

Seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe, as it rapidly loses viability if allowed to dry out. Surface sow and keep moist; germination usually occurs within 1–3 months at 15°C, though one source reports spring germination. For stored seed, two months of warm stratification followed by a cold period improves germination. Sow thinly so seedlings can remain undisturbed in the pot through their first year, and apply liquid feed at intervals during the growing season. Seedlings produce only one leaf in their first year and are very prone to damping off. Once dormant, divide seedlings into individual pots and grow on in a partially shaded greenhouse for at least another year before planting out into permanent positions. Can also be propagated by division after flowering.

Other Uses

None known

Notes

There are about 300 Corydalis species. It is used in medicine.

Synonyms

Also Known As

čvrsti petelinček

References (9)

• Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 286
• Brown, D., 2002, The Royal Horticultural Society encyclopedia of Herbs and their uses. DK Books. p 179
• Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 420
• Joyce, D., 1998, The Garden Plant Selector. Ryland, Peters and Small. p 218
• Lim, T. K., 2015, Edible Medicinal and Non Medicinal Plants. Volume 9, Modified Stems, Roots, Bulbs. Springer p 43

More from Papaveraceae

Chelidonium majus

Greater Celandine

Corydalis ambigua

Corydalis bulbosa

Fumewort

Corydalis calliantha

Corydalis caucasica

Corydalis crassifolia