Plant sprawls over other plants

3 leaves each with 3 parts

Stems are soft and twist

Buds forming

Leaves and flower stems opposite

Flowers around 12 on each flowerhead

Fruit forming inside flower parts

Flowers drop as fruit forms

Fruit is held erect on short stems

Tap root

Scientific Name

Fumaria muralis

Synonyms

 

Common Names

Fumaria, wall fumitory

Origin

Europe

Family

Fumariaceae

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Distinguishing Characteristics

This is a spawling annual (only living 1 season) herb, which is much-branched, delicate, hairless, often dull green in colour. Stems are weak, angular and often trailing or climbing.

Leaves are finely-divided often down to the midrib, segments flat, lance to pear shaped, pale, opposite. Leaves on young plants form a rosette.

Each inflorescence (flowerhead) has around 12 flowers. Flowers have short stalks, are narrow, elongated and dense during flowering and fruiting stages. Flowers are pink-red with tips blackish/dirty red.

Fruit is a rounded nut which is mostly smooth on a short stem. The fruit stems hold the fruit erect.

Other plants easily confused with this plant

This species may be confused with other Fumarias. Fumaria muralis is most easily distinguished by its flowers which have pink petals with a dirty red colour at the tips. It has < 15 flowers per flowerhead, and its fruit stems are erect.

Sources & References

"Weeds - an illustrated botanical guide to weeds of Australia" by B. A. Auld and R. W. Medd

"Plantnet FloraOnline"  (2005) http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/

 

Prepared by Justin KY Chu, July 2005

Checked by IEWF, November 2006

Updated by IEWF, January 2007