Fumaria officinalis L.

Fumitory

Fumaria_officinalis_plant.jpg
STATS

Introduced
CC = *
CW = 5
MOC = 3

© DETenaglia

Family - Fumariaceae

Stems - No info yet.

Fumaria_officinalis_stem.jpg

© DETenaglia

Leaves - No info yet.

Inflorescence - No info yet.

Fumaria_officinalis_inflorescence.jpg

© DETenaglia

Flowers - No info yet.

Fumaria_officinalis_flowers.jpg

© DETenaglia

Fumaria_officinalis_fruits.jpg Developing fruits.

© DETenaglia

Flowering - April - May.

Habitat - Waste places, disturbed sites, fields, roadsides.

Origin - Native to Eurasia.

Other info. - This weedy but striking introduced species has only recently been found in Missouri and is currently only reported for one county (Hickory). The plant is easy to identify because if its angled stems, finely divided leaves, and zygomorphic, dark-pink flowers. The common name for the plant is "Earthsmoke" presumably called such from the nitrous odor the roots emit when first pulled from the ground. The plant was used medicinally in its native range.

Photographs taken on the Auburn University Campus, AL., 3-6-05.