Hollowroot

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Hollow Root

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Capnites cava
• Fumaria bulbosa subsp. cava
• Fumaria bulbosa var. cava
• Pistolochia cava
• Corydalis bulbosa subsp. cava

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Ranunculales. Finally, it is a member of the Papaveraceae family and falls under the genus Corydalis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad presence across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its range extends through countries such as Denmark, Great Britain, and Sweden. Moving toward the center of the continent, the species is also well-established in Middle Europe. Specifically, it can be found growing within the borders of Austria. Additionally, the plant maintains a notable distribution in Belgium, completing its regional presence.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Corydalis cava is defined by its preference for temperate woodland environments, where it thrives within the sheltered microclimates of deciduous forests and dense shrubberies. This species typically establishes itself in nutrient-rich, moist, yet well-drained soils, often occupying the forest floor where it can take advantage of the ephemeral light availability during the spring before the canopy fully closes. By inhabiting these shaded forest and shrubbery habitats, the plant benefits from the buffered temperature ranges and the organic matter provided by decaying leaf litter, which supports its specialized life cycle as a spring ephemeral.

Habitat :

forest, shrubberies

Life history

The life history of Corydalis cava is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its habitat through multiple growing seasons. As a cryptophyte, it survives unfavorable periods by retreating to underground structures, specifically functioning as a geophyte where its vital organs are protected beneath the soil surface. This plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its above-ground foliage during dormant periods to conserve energy and withstand environmental shifts.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Corydalis cava is characterized by a non-woody, herbaceous growth form, functioning as a self-supporting herb. As a terrestrial plant, it does not exhibit aquatic or epiphytic tendencies, nor does it function as a parasite, maintaining an independent biological existence. The plant typically maintains a modest stature, with a mean height of approximately 0.158 m, though individual specimens generally range from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum height of 0.3 m. Its structure is entirely self-supporting rather than being a climber, liana, or vine, consistent with its classification as a non-woody forb.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.3 m

Plant height mean:

0.158 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Corydalis cava is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy for temperate herbaceous perennials that involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide via the Calvin cycle. The plant is non-carnivorous, relying entirely on its root system and organic soil nutrients rather than the capture of prey for nitrogen supplementation. Morphologically, its foliage exhibits a mean leaf size of approximately 56.32875 cm², supporting its photosynthetic surface area. Furthermore, the species demonstrates a high Specific Leaf Area (SLA) with a mean value of 504.05 cm²/g, indicating relatively thin and expansive leaf structures that are optimized for efficient light interception and gas exchange within its ecological niche.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

56.32875 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

504.05 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Corydalis cava is a specialized process primarily driven by sexual mechanisms, as asexual reproduction is notably absent. The flowering period typically begins in March and concludes in May. The plant relies on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically utilizing insects with a strong association with bees to facilitate fertilization; notably, self-fertilization is absent, ensuring genetic diversity through cross-pollination. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces fruit in the form of a dehiscent capsule. The seeds produced are quite small, with a mean mass of 0.01015 g and a range spanning from a minimum of 0.0085 g to a maximum of 0.0085 g. Dispersal is categorized under the zoochorous syndrome, specifically exhibiting myrmecocorous tendencies, which indicates that the seeds are dispersed by ants.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

myrmecochorous

Flowering time :

Mar

Flowering time :

May

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.0085 g

Seed mass mean:

0.01015 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Corydalis cava has 11 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include protopine, -CORYDALINE, Allocryptopine, Bulbocapnine, CHELIDONINE.

protopine

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

-CORYDALINE

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Allocryptopine

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Bulbocapnine

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

CHELIDONINE

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Catecholamine

1. Arzneimittel-Forschung

Corydine

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flavonoids

1. Fitoterapia

SANGUINARINE

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

adrenaline

1. Arzneimittel-Forschung

Activities

Corydalis cava has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hypnotic, Sedative.

Hypnotic

1. Arzneimittel-Forschung

Sedative

1. Arzneimittel-Forschung

Conditions

Corydalis cava has 6 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Cancer, anxiety, cancer, fever, hypnotic.

Cancer

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Anxiety

1. Arzneimittel-Forschung

Cancer

1. Fitoterapia

Fever

1. Fitoterapia

Hypnotic

1. Arzneimittel-Forschung

Sedative

1. Arzneimittel-Forschung

Preparations

Corydalis cava has 4 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Aqueous and methanolic extracts, alcoholic drug extracts, aqueous-ethanolic extracts, ethanolic extracts.

Aqueous and methanolic extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Alcoholic drug extracts

1. Arzneimittel-Forschung

Aqueous-ethanolic extracts

1. Arzneimittel-Forschung

Ethanolic extracts

1. Arzneimittel-Forschung