Common Fumitory
Common Fumitory flower spikes
New colony in early May
Flower spike and self-rooting stem
Flowers and globular fruits
Close-up of tubular flowers
Young leaves
Unfolding leaves
Mature leaves
Fumaria officinalis
Papaveraceae
April to November
It is found throughout the country except for parts of
the far Southwest and the Northern uplands
See the BSBI distribution map for Common Fumitory
It is an archaeophyte.
It is a weed of disturbed and cultivated land, such as
arable fields and gardens.
The pictures shown here are from land on Ham Hill,
Somerset, which had been cleared in preparation for
quarrying.
Common Fumitary is a scrambling, annual herb, growing
up to 1m.
The flowers are on separate stems.
They are tubular (up to 8mm) and dull pink with deep
purple tips.
Fruits are globular.
Leaves are 1 to 3 pinnate.
They are slightly grey and appear smoky at a distance,
hence the name.
Stems are fragile, ridged and root where they touch the
ground.
Seeds germinate in spring and produce self-rooting
colonies of increasing size.
Previous page: Common Fiddleneck
Next page: Common Mouse-ear
Common Fumitory flower spikes
New colony in early May
Flower spike and self-rooting stem
Flowers and globular fruits
Close-up of tubular flowers
Young leaves
Unfolding leaves
Mature leaves
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