Plants perennial, glaucous, from large, fleshy roots. Stems 1-several, 10-15 dm or more. Leaves ca. 5, compound, to 10 dm; blade with 2-4 orders of leaflets and lobes; ultimate lobes of proximal cauline leaves narrowly to broadly elliptic, 1-5 cm, apiculate. Inflorescences paniculate, 50 or more flowers on primary-axis; bracts inconspicuous, linear or narrowly elliptic, rarely wider, proximal bracts ca. 10 mm, distal greatly reduced. Flowers ascending or spreading; pedicel 3-5 mm; sepals persistent, round and irregularly dentate to ovate, lunate, or attenuate-lanceolate with broad, sometimes lobed base, 2-3 mm; petals light pink to white, inner ones tipped reddish purple; spurred petal often incurved, 16-25 mm, spur tapered or not, 9-16 mm, apex obtuse, crest absent, inconspicuous, or extending into beak beyond petal apices, marginal wing narrow to broad, conspicuous; unspurred outer petal 10-15 mm; inner petals 7-12 mm, claw 3-5 mm; nectariferous spur 1/2-3/4 length of petal spur; style 3-4 mm; stigma roughly rectangular, with 8 papillae. Capsules reflexed, ellipsoid, 10-15 × ca. 3-5 mm. Seeds ca. 2.5 mm diam., with numerous minute protuberances.

Distribution

w United States

Discussion

Subspecies 5 (5 in the flora).

Significant livestock losses have been caused by ingestion of Corydalis caseana, which is palatable to both cattle and sheep, despite the toxicity.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Corydalis caseana subsp. brachycarpa, Corydalis caseana subsp. brandegei, Corydalis caseana subsp. caseana, Corydalis caseana subsp. cusickii, Corydalis caseana subsp. hastata

Key

1	Outer petals with marginal wing narrow or absent, apex of unspurred outer petal acute; California.	Corydalis caseana subsp. caseana
1	Outer petals with marginal wing moderately to highly developed, apex of unspurred outer petal not acute; other than California.	> 2
2	Outer petals with marginal wing scarcely revolute, apex rounded, sometimes minutely apiculate or notched.	> 3
2	Outer petals with marginal wing distinctly revolute, apex distinctly notched.	> 4
3	Outer petals minutely apiculate; stems mostly 10–15 dm; Colorado and New Mexico.	Corydalis caseana subsp. brandegei
3	Outer petals not minutely apiculate, occasionally minutely notched; stems mostly 4–10 dm; Utah.	Corydalis caseana subsp. brachycarpa
4	Inflorescences profusely branching; outer petals with marginal wing moderately developed, minutely eroded; n Idaho.	Corydalis caseana subsp. hastata
4	Inflorescences not profusely branching; outer petals with marginal wing highly developed, not minutely eroded; ne Oregon and s Idaho.	Corydalis caseana subsp. cusickii