BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Corydalis sempervirens | Pink Corydalis 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Pink corydalis is a native, bienniel or annual forb.  The flowers are
pink and yellow-tipped, perfect, and sympetalous with a single spur
[10].  It grows 8 to 30 inches (20-80 cm) tall, and the leaves are 0.1
to 0.2 inch (2.5-5 mm) wide [11].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Phanerophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Pink corydalis reproduces sexually.  It will flower in either the first
or second year.  It is pollinated by wind or ants [12].  The fruit is a
simple, dry, dehiscent capsule with 25 seeds [10].  There is evidence
that the seeds require heat before germination [1,18].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Pink corydalis grows in boreal forests and occurs almost exclusively on
disturbed areas [1].  It grows best in full light [20].  Pink corydalis
grows in dry, gravelly soil and in open to thin woods from low to fairly
high elevations [14,22].  It has been reported in climates with cold
winters and cool summers (mean January temperatures of -15 to 18 degrees
F [-26 to -8 C] and mean July temperatures of 63 to 66 degrees F [17-19
deg C]) [1,12,17].

Pink corydalis often occurs in communities with the following overstory
dominants:  black spruce (Picea mariana), aspen (Populus tremuloides),
paper birch (Betula papyrifera), white spruce (Picea glauca), jack pine
(Pinus banksia), balsam fir (Abies balsamea), or tamarack (Larix
laricina).  Pink corydalis is most often found associated with other
postfire pioneers such as cranesbill (Geranium bicknellii), fireweed
(Epilobium angustifolium), bindweed (Polygonum cilinode), moosebrush
(Viburnum edule), and some sedges (Carex spp.)
[4,6,8,12,13,17,20,21,23,25].

In Glacier National Park, pink corydalis is found at Lake McDonald,
along Sperry Glacier Trail, at Many Glacier, Sun Camp, Mt. Altyn, and
along the west side of the Waterton River one-half mile south of
Waterton Lake [15].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Obligate Initial Community Species

Pink corydalis is a pioneer species in secondary succession,
particularly after fires; it is generally present for 3 to 6 years
following fire [1,6,13].  It develops best in full light and is
characterized by rapid invasion and growth [28].


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Vegetative growth occurs from May through August [11].  Flowering occurs
in July in Montana [15].

Related categories for Species: Corydalis sempervirens | Pink Corydalis