fumewort

• Meist mehrjährige krautige Pflanze der Gattung Fumaria mit fein zerteiltem, graugrünem Laub und kleinen purpurroten oder rosafarbenen Blüten in Trauben; früher auch als Heilpflanze verwendet.

A noun referring to a herbaceous plant, typically with delicate greyish leaves and spikes of purplish or red flowers, formerly used for medicinal purposes.

1. European herb (Corydalis solida)C2formalscientific

   A delicate European herb with greyish, finely divided leaves and spikes of purplish flowers, historically used in herbal medicine.

   Gefingerter Lerchensporn

   • Fumewort was once commonly used as a tonic by herbalists.
   • The greyish foliage of fumewort makes it distinctive in woodland gardens.
   • Purplish spikes of fumewort appear in early spring.
   • Medieval physicians often prescribed fumewort for liver complaints.

2. Northern herb (Lamium or related)C2formalscientific

   A herb native to northern Europe and Asia, bearing erect racemes of red flowers, sometimes mistaken for a nettle.

   Taubnessel

   • The red-flowered fumewort grows abundantly in Scandinavian meadows.
   • Botanists classify this form of fumewort in the Lamiaceae family.
   • Erect racemes of deep red appear on fumewort in midsummer.
   • Northern fumewort is often found near streams and damp woodlands.