[Illustration: GOLDEN CORYDALIS TEXAS CORYDALIS]
Leaves usually much divided; sepals 2; petals 4 in 2 series, outer
usually spurred, the 2 inner usually crested and united; stamens 4 or 6;
seeds shining.
Golden Corydalis. Plains Scrambled-Eggs (_Capnoides montanum_) is a
common plant throughout the central and western parts of the state,
ranging to Arizona and Montana, and blooming in Texas with the earlier
spring flowers in March and April. By some botanists it is placed in the
_Corydalis_ group, which was named because of the resemblance of the
flower spur to that of a lark. The pods are about an inch long, and the
seeds are black, smooth, and shining. The short-podded scrambled-eggs
(_Capnoides crystallinum_) comes into the northern part of the state
from Kansas and Missouri. The pods are over half an inch long, about ¼
in. broad, and covered with blisters.
Texas Corydalis or Scrambled-Eggs (_Capnoides curvisiliquum_) grows in
the sandy regions of the state. It is usually a more bushy plant than
the preceding ones, with longer 4-angled pods.
Dutchman’s breeches (_Dicentra cucullaria_), so called because of the
shape of the flower, does not come into the state. The plant in Texas
which is called Dutchman’s breeches from the shape of the seed case is
_Thamnosma texana_, a member of the rue family.