Pale Corydalis

Description:

Racemes of hanging tubular flowers on slender stalks. Flowers have 2 pairs of petals and a short blunt spur at the back. Petals are pale rose to deep pink with bright yellow lips at the mouth of the tube. The pink tube is somewhat flattened with a ridge all along the top and around the spur. The lower petals are thin and narrow and fit in the fold of the upper; the lips of both flare into bright yellow lobes at the opening, the upper lip three-lobed and the lower single. A pair of tiny teardrop shaped sepals grasp the flower at the end of the stalk. Leaves and stems: Leaf attachment: alternate Leaf type: compound Leaf type: lobed Leaves are compound in groups of 3 to 5, with leaflets cleft in 2 or 3 parts that are further divided into narrow segments, rounded or blunt at the tips. Lower leaves are stalked, upper leaves are stalkless or nearly so. Stems are erect; leaves and stems are hairless, gray-green to blue-green, covered by a waxy bloom.

Habitat:

part shade, sun; rocky soil, boreal forests, lake shores