Pseudo-fumaria lutea

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Corydalis capnoides var. lutea
• Fumaria tetragona
• Pseudo-fumaria capnoides
• Capnoides lutea
• Fumaria lutea
• Capnites ochroleucus
• Borckhausenia lutea
• Corydalis lutea
• Capnoides albida

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, situated within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is categorized under the order Ranunculales and the family Papaveraceae. Finally, it is classified under the genus Pseudo-fumaria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific range of occurrence across the northern regions of the European continent. It can be found growing throughout various parts of Northern Europe, including Denmark and Great Britain. The species is also distributed across the island of Ireland. Furthermore, its presence extends into the Scandinavian Peninsula, specifically within Norway and Sweden. Together, these locations define the primary geographical footprint of the species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pseudo-fumaria lutea is primarily characterized by its occurrence in lowland environments, where it occupies specific niches within various terrestrial ecosystems. This species is typically found in open, sun-exposed areas, ranging from dry grasslands and ruderal sites to the edges of disturbed woodlands and stony slopes. As a plant adapted to lowland regions, it thrives in well-drained soils, often preferring calcareous or sandy substrates that prevent water stagnation. Its presence is frequently linked to disturbed habitats where competition from dense perennial vegetation is limited, allowing it to establish itself in seasonal or ephemeral clearings. The distribution and success of the species within these lowland habitats are closely tied to soil moisture availability and light intensity, playing a role in the micro-ecosystems of temperate open landscapes.

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Pseudo-fumaria lutea is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a perennial plant, it possesses the capacity to survive seasonal changes and regrow from its established root system, contributing to its long-term presence within its ecological niche. This life cycle enables the plant to establish stable populations that can endure fluctuating environmental conditions over several years.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pseudo-fumaria lutea is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, reaching a maximum plant height of approximately 0.3 m. This species is primarily terrestrial in its habitat, lacking aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, and it functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. Regarding its structural support, the plant is self-supporting, exhibiting neither obligate nor facultative climbing habits such as a vine or liana. Furthermore, it is a terrestrial plant that does not exhibit epiphytic behavior, maintaining a strictly non-woody stem structure.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiological structure of Pseudo-fumaria lutea is characterized by a specific leaf morphology that dictates its photosynthetic capacity and transpiration rates. The plant exhibits a consistent leaf width, maintaining a stable mean, minimum, and maximum measurement of 10.5 cm, which suggests a highly uniform development of the laminar tissue across the foliage. This lateral expansion is complemented by a vertical leaf length that reaches a maximum of 15 cm, providing a substantial surface area for light interception and gas exchange. These morphological dimensions play a critical role in the plant's metabolic efficiency, as the fixed width and variable length influence the hydraulic conductance and the overall canopy architecture necessary for its physiological processes.

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf width mean:

10.5 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pseudo-fumaria lutea is characterized by the development of distinct fruiting structures and specialized seed morphology. The plant produces fruits that reach an average length of approximately 1 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds are produced with a highly consistent physical dimension, exhibiting a uniform seed width of 1.8 mm. This measurement remains constant across the reproductive cycle, with both the minimum and maximum recorded seed width values staying strictly at 1.8 mm, indicating a very low level of morphological variation in the seed width of this species.

Fruit length mean:

1 cm

Seed width mean:

1.8 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Pseudo-fumaria lutea has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Coptisine.

Coptisine

1. Planta medica

Preparations

Pseudo-fumaria lutea has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include crude extracts.

Crude extracts

1. Planta medica