Fumariaceæ

Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Volume 5: Friday to Humanitarians, p. 32

Fumariaceæ, an order of dicotyledonous herbs, allied to Papaveraceæ, of which they may be regarded as specialised forms. There are about a hundred species, mostly palæarctic, and mostly weeds, but some of great beauty (see DICENTRA). Several species of Fumaria and Corydalis are natives of Britain. The Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis) is a very common annual weed in gardens and corn-fields, rank, yet of rather delicate and beautiful appearance, and easily extirpated. It was formerly much employed in medicine, as also in dyeing, and as a source of potash.

A detailed botanical illustration of the Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis). The plant is shown with a central, slightly curved stem. At the top, there is a large, compound, palmately lobed leaf. Below it, the stem branches out into several smaller, more finely divided, and more deeply lobed leaves. The plant appears to be growing from a small, somewhat bulbous base. The drawing is a fine-line engraving style.
Common Fumitory
(Fumaria officinalis).
Source scan(s): p. 0041