CORYDALIS

The genus Corydalis belongs in the same botanical family as poppies, the Papaveraceae. Its closer allies within that family include the bleeding hearts (Dicentra, Lamprocapnos and Dactylicapnos) and the fumitories (Fumaria). While these once formed their own family, the closer alignment of these genera within the Papaveraceae is still recognised and sees them placed in their own sub-family, the Fumarioideae. Although the group was named for Fumaria, reflecting the European bias of earlier botanists, the most important genus in terms of numbers of species and broadness of distribution is now known to be Corydalis.

The genus is a treasure trove of diminutive, jewel-like species, the vast majority of which reside in China and Tibet., which can grow to 1m, and Central Asian , but most of the species grown in gardens will not exceed 30cm. has been known to Western botany since the Classical period and became of particular interest to apothecaries. contains poisonous alkaloids that in small quantities were used to treat ailments, both in humans and cattle. But the real richness of the genus was not revealed to the West until China was opened up to botanical exploration; of 450 species in total, 330 are native to China and Tibet.