Flora-Fauna

Corydalis erdelii Zucc.

(First published in Flora 15(2): 310 (1832); Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 1; 1966)

• Life-form & habit : Perennial tuberous geophyte; stems erect, slender, 20–50 cm tall, glabrous, arising from a small underground tuber.

• Leaves : Alternate; lower leaves 2–3-pinnatisect with finely divided segments; upper leaves smaller, less divided; segments linear to oblong, glabrous, bluish-green.

• Inflorescence & flowers : Terminal racemes, lax to moderately dense; flowers zygomorphic, tubular, pink to purplish; upper petal prolonged into a short spur; bracts small, often divided; sepals minute or absent.

• Fruit : Capsule linear, slender, dehiscent; seeds numerous, small, often with an elaiosome.

• Phenology : Flowers from April to June; fruiting from May to July.

• Habitat & elevation : Rocky slopes, open woodland and montane grasslands; 800–2000 m.

• Lebanese distribution : Mount Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon; local.

• Native range : Lebanon-Syria, Transcaucasus, Türkiye.

• Diagnostic remarks : Distinguished by its finely divided foliage and spurred flowers; differs from related species by its relatively lax racemes and tuberous habit.