Syn.: Bulbocapnos cavus Bernh., Capnites cava (L.) Dumort., Corydalis tuberosa DC., Fumaria bulbosa var. cava L., Fumaria cava (L.) Mill., Pistolochia cava (L.) Bernh.
Family: Papaveraceae Juss.

Corydalis cava

Distribution: Europe and southwestern Asia – from northeastern Portugal and Belgium to Ukraine, Ciscaucasia and northern Iran, northward to southern Sweden.

Ecology: It grows in open forests, alluvial forests and mixed deciduous forests, on humus soils, from lowlands to foothills. It blooms from March to May.

Corydalis cava

Description: Perennial herb with a hollow tuber, 10–35 cm tall. Stem erect, without a scale below lowest leaf. Leaves 2- or 3-ternate, usually alternate, glaucous or green. Raceme 10–20-flowered; bracts conspicuous, ovate, entire; corolla 20–30 mm, purple, white or rarely pink; sepals absent, petals 4, the 2 inner similar, oblong, broadened and coherent at apex, the 2 outer dissimilar, the lower usually somewhat saccate at base, expanded into broad limb at apex, the upper with curved spur. Fruit a capsule, 20–25 mm long, pendent when ripe.

Corydalis cava
Corydalis cavaCorydalis cava
Corydalis cava
Corydalis cava
Corydalis cava
Corydalis cava

These images were taken in Czechia, Bohemia, Prague (April 10, 2011) and Chotuc (April 20, 2014).