''Corydalis aurea,'' also known as scrambled eggs, golden smoke, or golden corydalis, is a flowering plant in the poppy family (

Papaveraceae The Papaveraceae, informally known as the poppy family, are an economically important family (biology), family of about 42 genera and approximately 775 known species of flowering plants in the order Ranunculales. The family is cosmopolitan dis ...

). The plant has a broad range stretching across

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...

and is able to thrive within a variety of ecosystems. The plant possesses numerous distinct characteristics. Its fruit most closely resembles that of a pea pod and is typically around 3/4 of an inch in length. The plant has numerous medicinal uses, as well as uses for gardens.

Description

Flowers

The

flower Flowers, also known as blooms and blossoms, are the reproductive structures of flowering plants ( angiosperms). Typically, they are structured in four circular levels, called whorls, around the end of a stalk. These whorls include: calyx, m ...

s are bilaterally symmetrical, yellow, 1 cm (0.39 in) long, with a pouch-like

spur A spur is a metal tool designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of riding boots for the purpose of directing a horse or other animal to move forward or laterally while riding. It is usually used to refine the riding aids (commands) and to ba ...

at the bottom of the petals that is around 0.5 cm (0.20 in) long and born in

raceme A raceme () or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate growth, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are ...

s of up to 30 flowers, each on a short

stem Stem or STEM most commonly refers to: * Plant stem, a structural axis of a vascular plant * Stem group * Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics Stem or STEM can also refer to: Language and writing * Word stem, part of a word respon ...

. The flowers have four petals and six stamens, which classifies this flower under the

Eudicots The eudicots or eudicotyledons are flowering plants that have two seed leaves (cotyledons) upon germination. The term derives from ''dicotyledon'' (etymologically, ''eu'' = true; ''di'' = two; ''cotyledon'' = seed leaf). Historically, authors h ...

clade, also known as a monophyletic group. They are pollinated by insects. The flowers are originally erect but droop as they age. They flowers possess a green spot within the end of the tip's center that changes color as the flower reaches a later age. The flowers possess

Indeterminate growth In biology and botany, indeterminate growth is growth that is not terminated, in contrast to determinate growth that stops once a genetically predetermined structure has completely formed. Thus, a plant that grows and produces flowers and fruit ...

phenology and die when unable to handle environmental conditions. Their blooming season ranges from mid-winter to early fall, depending on their location and habitat.

Seeds

The seeds produced are not appetizing to taste and have been known to poison cattle and other animals due to the potentially toxic alkaloids they possess. Although potentially toxic, they have been utilized throughout history for medical uses for humans. The seeds disperse in two main manners, with those being through wind dispersion and through animal dispersion by ants.

Fruit

The

fruit In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants (angiosperms) that is formed from the ovary after flowering. Fruits are the means by which angiosperms disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particular have long propaga ...

s are cylindrical capsules. They most closely represent a pea pod shape and are typically a straight shape before curling in an upwards manner as its seeds prepare to disperse.

Stems and Leaves

Stem Stem or STEM most commonly refers to: * Plant stem, a structural axis of a vascular plant * Stem group * Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics Stem or STEM can also refer to: Language and writing * Word stem, part of a word respon ...

s are decumbent, to 40 cm long, with blue-green or green-grey

leaves A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, ...

divided into leaflets with oval or diamond lobes. Because of their pointed nature, the leaves have an appearance that is most comparable to a feather.

Roots

The

root In vascular plants, the roots are the plant organ, organs of a plant that are modified to provide anchorage for the plant and take in water and nutrients into the plant body, which allows plants to grow taller and faster. They are most often bel ...

is a branching

caudex A caudex (: caudices) of a plant is a stem, but the term is also used to mean a rootstock and particularly a basal stem structure from which new growth arises.pages 456 and 695 In the strict sense of the term, meaning a stem, "caudex" is most ...

. The roots possess medicinal properties, having been used to treat headaches.

Uses

Medicinal

Traditionally used by

Amerindians In the Americas, Indigenous peoples comprise the two continents' pre-Columbian inhabitants, as well as the ethnic groups that identify with them in the 15th century, as well as the ethnic groups that identify with the pre-Columbian population of ...

, its use as a tea provided relief for heart diseases, backaches, stomach aches, menstruation pain, diarrhea, sore throats, and bronchitis, among other things. The smoke and fumes produced from burning the plants' roots were used to relieve pain caused by headaches.

Aesthetic and Ornamental Uses

Uncommonly used for artificial habitats such as a

Rock garden A rock garden, also known as a rockery and formerly as a rockwork, is a garden, or more often a part of a garden, with a landscaping framework of rocks, stones, and gravel, with planting appropriate to this setting. Usually these are small ...

Range

Native to

, ''Corydalis aurea'' ranges from western Quebec to California and can also be found in states such as Missouri, Texas, West Virginia, and along the New England states. A winter annual, it can be found in areas such as the sagebrush steppe but thrives in a variety of habitats such as mountain meadows, prairies, and in well wooded areas. They can be found along the bottom of creek beds underneath shade and surrounded by thickets along gravel grades.

References

External links

Jepson Manual Treatment
*
Plants For A Future
aurea Medicinal plants of North America {{Papaveraceae-stub