Corydalis (from Greek korydalís "crested lark") is a genus of about 540 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants in the family Papaveraceae, native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere and the high mountains of tropical eastern Africa. They are most diverse in China and the Himalayas, with at least 357 species in China.
Corydalis species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species (butterflies), especially the clouded Apollo.
Corydalis cava and some other tuberous species contain the alkaloid bulbocapnine, which is occasionally used in medicine but scientific evidence is lacking in the correct dosages and side effects.[1]
Many of the species in Corydalis contain other toxins and alkaloids like canadine, which blocks calcium. The species C. caseana is poisonous to livestock.[2]
There are about 540 species, including:
Corydalis ambigua
Golden smoke (Corydalis aurea)
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Corydalis buschii
Corydalis bracteata
Corydalis caseana
Corydalis cava
Ferny corydalis (Corydalis cheilanthifolia)
Corydalis chelidoniifolia
Corydalis flavula
Corydalis flexuosa
Corydalis heterocarpa
Corydalis integra
Corydalis linstowiana
Corydalis nobilis
Corydalis ochotensis
Corydalis orthoceras
Corydalis pallida var. tenuis
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Corydalis pauciflora
Seed pods of Corydalis pauciovulata
Corydalis rutifolia
Corydalis scouleri
Corydalis solida
Corydalis vittae
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Corydalis wilsonii
Several former Corydalis have been moved to new genera:
Corydalis (from Greek korydalís "crested lark") is a genus of about 540 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants in the family Papaveraceae, native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere and the high mountains of tropical eastern Africa. They are most diverse in China and the Himalayas, with at least 357 species in China.
