Short Description
The common fumitory can grow up to 40 cm high.
The large leaves consist of completely separate leaflets, which in turn consist of fine leaflets (bipinnate). The leaflets are rounded. They stand singly and alternately on the stem.
The stem is glabrous and blue-green.
The flowers stand numerous in elongated inflorescences. The individual flowers are elongated, with four pink to purple petals that are darker at the tip. The flowers have a small spur at the back.
The fruit is a single-seeded, spherical nut.
Features
Common fumitory
Fumaria officinalis
poisonous
narrow flowers with darker tip
finely dissected leaves
In the city
The nutrient-rich soils of the city provide numerous habitats for the common fumitory. It is relatively common in gardens or wasteland. It prefers semi-shady, slightly moist sites with nutrient-rich soils.
Fun Facts
The flowering period is from May to November.
The tea made from fumitory leaves was formerly used in naturopathy for cramps and digestive complaints.
It is an annual plant, i.e. it only flowers for one summer and dies after the seeds have ripened.
- Endangerment level Germany: not endangered
The whole plant is poisonous.
Sources
Habitus, H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fumaria_officinalis_003.JPG
Blütenstand, Olivier Pichard, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fumaria_officinalis_fluy_802007_2.jpg
Habitus, H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fumaria_officinalis_001.JPG
Eggenberg, S. & Möhl, A. (2007) Flora Vegetativa: Ein Bestimmungsbuch für Pflanzen der Schweiz im blütenlosen Zustand, Bern, Stuttgart, Wien: Haupt Verlag.
Jäger, E. J. (2011) Rothmaler - Exkursionsflora von Deutschland. Gefäßpflanzen: Grundband, Heidelberg: Spektrum Akademischer Verlag.
Kammer, P. M. (2016) Pflanzen einfach bestimmen. Schritt für Schritt einheimische Arten kennenlernen, Bern: Haupt Verlag.
Schauer, T., Caspari, C. & Caspari, S. (2015) Der illustrierte BLV-Pflanzenführer für unterwegs. 1150 Blumen, Gräser, Bäume und Sträucher, München: BLV.
Page „Gewöhnlicher Erdrauch“. : Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Date of last revision: 21.05.2017, 11:50 UTC. URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gew%C3%B6hnlicher_Erdrauch&oldid=165696413 (Accessed:16.08.2017).
Bundesamt für Naturschutz (n.d.) Artensteckbriefe, URL: http://floraweb.de/pflanzenarten/artenhome.xsql?suchnr=26967& (Accessed:16.08.2017).