Corydalis seeds sale – coming up! – Botanically Inclined

Corydalis solida – white form

Just before the heat wave I collected the last seeds from the only white form of Corydalis solida from the garden. I always collect the seeds from the nicest specimens to sow them in my desired locations.
I thought again about how this beautiful specimen appeared in my garden ‘out of nowhere’. It truly embodies the Corydalis solida spirit 😊 They will appear (and sometimes disappear) at will, in various colors and various parts of the garden.

The arrival of the spring would be so much poor without them. They bring color, hope and the excitement of new forms flowering. So, even if there are small seeds quantities this spring, we’ll have a short-flash sale starting Saturday.

Another post will follow with more explanations. Stay tuned…(insider tip: another white beauty, Corydalis cava fo. alba seeds will also be available).

Meanwhile, we can have a close look at the seeds elaiosomes of a few species. While some of the bulbous Corydalis are very look-alike flower and foliage wise, the elaiosomes are most often characteristic for a given species, being different in shape and size and they can help with the identification.

They are easy to observe with a regular hand lens; the only drawback is that it needs to be done on freshly collected seeds. The elaiosomes will dry out very fast afterwards, their only function being to help with the dispersal by attracting ants (and maybe other small creatures). However, for example it is an easy way to establish the identity of Corydalis caucasica versus Corydalis solida, or to make sure you actually grow Corydalis cava or C. marschalliana, instead of something else.