2. Corydalis crystallina (Torr. & A. Gray) Engelm. ex A. Gray (mealy corydalis)
Pl. 418 d, e;
Map 1862
Plants green or
more commonly gray and glaucous. Stems 10–40 cm long, loosely to strongly
ascending, sometimes from a spreading base. Basal and lower stem leaves with
the petiole 3–6 cm long, the upper leaves sessile or very short-petiolate. Leaf
blades 1.5–8.0 cm long, with mostly 7 or 9 pinnae, these again 1 or 2 times
deeply several-lobed, the ultimate segments linear to narrowly oblong or
lanceolate. Inflorescences mostly extending past the foliage, all with open
flowers, (4–)8–20-flowered racemes. Flower stalks 1–2 mm long, ascending at
flowering and fruiting. Corollas bright yellow, the upper outer petal 15–22 mm
long, the spur 6–8 mm long, straight or nearly so, the concave apical portion
with an irregularly wavy or toothed crest. Fruits 10–20 mm long, straight or
slightly curved, moderately to densely pubescent with short, white,
bladderlike, inflated hairs, appearing mealy. Seeds 2.0–2.3 mm long, the
surface finely pebbled (best observed with magnification), the bluntly to
sharply angled rim lacking a marginal ridge. 2n=16. April–June.
Scattered in
western Missouri, mostly south of the Missouri River, east locally to Clark
County and the city of St. Louis. (Missouri and Kansas south to Oklahoma,
Texas, and Arkansas). Glades, upland prairies; also railroads, roadsides, and
open disturbed areas.
This distinctive
species is most often found growing on acidic substrates.