
Specimen collected in Cercedilla, Spain, April 2023(Backlit)
Fumaria officinalis
Scientific Name
Fumaria officinalis
FAMILY
papaveraceae
LIFESPAN
perennial
BLOSSOM SYMMETRY
zygomorph
Common Name
Earth smoke
ORDER
ranunculales
BLOSSOM COLOR
pink
PHYLLOTAXIS
alternate
Fumaria officinalis, commonly known as common fumitory, is a delicate annual herb native to Europe and western Asia. It is distinguished by its finely divided, feathery leaves and slender clusters of pinkish-purple tubular flowers with darker tips. Unlike many wild herbs, it thrives in disturbed soils and cultivated fields, often appearing as a pioneer species. Historically noted for its use in traditional medicine, it also supports wildlife by providing nectar for bees and other small pollinators. Its airy foliage and persistence in poor soils make Fumaria officinalis a distinctive component of temperate field ecosystems.
More Specimens

Detail of specimen collected in Cercedilla, Spain, April 2023(Backlit)