Family: Papaveraceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 700 (1753)
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Fumaria
Vegetable: False
Observations: Europe to Medit. and Caucasus
Description
Common fumitory, scientifically known as Fumaria officinalis, is a delicate plant originally detailed in the Species Plantarum in 1753 by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus. This species belongs to the Papaveraceae family, commonly referred to as the poppy family.
Fumaria officinalis is a small, herbaceous plant that thrives in a variety of climates and soils, making it a widespread species across Europe, the Mediterranean region, and extending into the Caucasus. It is easily recognized by its soft, feathery leaves and small, tubular flowers which typically range from pink to purple hues.
Historically, common fumitory has been valued for its medicinal properties. Traditional herbal medicine often utilized this plant for its supposed benefits in treating liver ailments, digestive issues, and skin disorders. Its name ‘fumitory’ is derived from the Latin ‘fumus terrae,’ meaning ‘smoke of the earth,’ a reference to its wispy, smoke-like appearance and the smoky odor of its freshly crushed foliage.
Ecologically, Fumaria officinalis is an annual plant that plays a role in its native habitats. It commonly grows in arable fields, grassy meadows, and along roadsides, often considered a weed due to its prolific nature. Despite its classification as a weed in some regions, it contributes to the biodiversity of its environment, supporting various pollinators, particularly bees and butterflies.
Cultivation of common fumitory is relatively straightforward due to its hardy nature. The plant prefers well-drained soil and can tolerate partial shade, although it flourishes in full sunlight. Gardeners who seek to cultivate Fumaria officinalis should be mindful of its tendency to self-seed and spread extensively if not monitored.
In summary, Fumaria officinalis, or common fumitory, is a resilient and historically significant plant that continues to thrive across a broad geographical range. Its medicinal uses, ecological contributions, and unique appearance ensure that it remains an interesting and valuable component of the flora in its native and introduced habitats.
Common Names
Eng: common fumitory, drug fumitory, fumitory, wax-dolls, earth-smoke
Deu: gewöhnliche erdrauch, gewöhnlicher erdrauch, gewöhnlicher erdrauch (i. w. s.)
Dan: læge-jordrøg, jordrøg
Nor: aaker-sissel, fomari
Fra: fumeterre officinal, fumeterre officinale
Nld: gewone duivenkervel, gewone duivenkervel subsp. wirtgenii
Swe: jordrök, peltoemäkki, vanlig jordrök
Nno: jordrøyk
Nob: jordrøyk
Fin: peltoemäkki
Ces: zemedym lekársky
Sme: sáhpperássi, sálterihča
Cym: coden fwg, cwd y mwg, mwg y ddaear, mwg y ddaear cyffredin, mwg y ddaear meddygol, mwg-y-ddaear cyffredin, mwglys, pwff mwg, pwff y mwg
En: Common fumitory, Fumitory, Wax-dolls, Drug fumitory, Earthsmoke, Earth-smoke, Beggary
Af: Duiwekerwel
Ar: بقلة الملك
Hy: Տերուկ դեղագործական
Az: Dərman şahtərəsi
Ba: Тиле кишер
Be: Дымніца лекавая
Bg: Лечебен росопас
Ca: Fumdeterra, Fumària oficinal
Zh: 烟堇, 球果紫菫
Kw: Mog dor
Hr: Ljekovita dimnjača
Cs: Zemědým lékařský, Zemedym lekársky
Da: Læge-Jordrøg, Jordrøg
Nl: Gewone duivekervel, Gewone duivenkervel, Gewone duivenkervel subsp. wirtgenii
Eo: Fumario
Et: Harilik punand
Fi: Peltoemäkki
Fr: Fumeterre officinal, Fumeterre officinale, Pied-de-Céline, Herbe à la veuve
Gl: Herba dona
De: Gewöhnliche Erdrauch, Gewöhnlicher Erdrauch, Gewöhnlicher Erdrauch (i. w. S.), Echter Erdrauch, Gebräuchlicher Erdrauch, Gemeiner Erdrauch
He: עשנן רפואי
Hu: Orvosi füstike
Is: Reykjurt
Ga: Camán searraigh díge
It: Feccia, Fumaria comune, Fumosterno, Fumaria officinale
Kk: Дәрілік Шытыра
Lt: Vaistinė žvirbliarūtė
Mk: Обична чадливка
Gv: Booa ghone
Se: Sáhpperássi, Sálterihča
No: Jordrøyk, Aaker-sissel, Fomari
Nb: Jordrøyk
Nn: Jordrøyk
Os: Фæздæггæрдæг
Fa: شاهتره
Pl: Dymnica pospolita
Pt: Erva-moleirinha, Fumária
Pt-br: Erva-molarinha, Erva-moleirinha, Fumária, Fel-da-terra
Ru: Дымянка лекарственная
Gd: Lus Deathach-thalmhainn
Sr: Димњача
Sk: Zemedym lekársky
Es: Palomilla, Fumaria, Sangre de Cristo
Sv: Jordrök, Peltoemäkki, Vanlig jordrök
Zh-tw: 球果紫菫
Tr: Şahtere otu
Uk: Рутка лікарська
Cy: Mwg-y-ddaear Cyffredin, Coden Fwg, Cwd y Mwg, Mwg y Ddaear, Mwg y Ddaear Cyffredin, Mwg y Ddaear Meddygol, Mwglys, Pwff Mwg, Pwff y Mwg
Synonyms
Distribution
- Albania (native)
- Algeria (native)
- Austria (native)
- Baleares (native)
- Baltic States (native)
- Belarus (native)
- Belgium (native)
- Bulgaria (native)
- Central European Rus (native)
- Corse (native)
- Cyprus (native)
- Czechoslovakia (native)
- Denmark (native)
- East Aegean Is. (native)
- East European Russia (native)
- Egypt (native)
- Finland (native)
- France (native)
- Germany (native)
- Greece (native)
- Hungary (native)
- Iraq (native)
- Italy (native)
- Kazakhstan (native)
- Kriti (native)
- Krym (native)
- Lebanon-Syria (native)
- Libya (native)
- Morocco (native)
- Netherlands (native)
- North Caucasus (native)
- North European Russi (native)
- Northwest European R (native)
- Norway (native)
- Portugal (native)
- Romania (native)
- Sardegna (native)
- Sicilia (native)
- South European Russi (native)
- Spain (native)
- Sweden (native)
- Switzerland (native)
- Transcaucasus (native)
- Tunisia (native)
- Turkey (native)
- Turkey-in-Europe (native)
- Ukraine (native)
- Yugoslavia (native)
- Alabama (introduced)
- Alberta (introduced)
- Altay (introduced)
- Amur (introduced)
- Argentina Northeast (introduced)
- Argentina Northwest (introduced)
- Argentina South (introduced)
- British Columbia (introduced)
- California (introduced)
- Canary Is. (introduced)
- Chile Central (introduced)
- Colombia (introduced)
- Colorado (introduced)
- Connecticut (introduced)
- Costa Rica (introduced)
- District of Columbia (introduced)
- Falkland Is. (introduced)
- Florida (introduced)
- Føroyar (introduced)
- Georgia (introduced)
- Great Britain (introduced)
- Hawaii (introduced)
- Iceland (introduced)
- Idaho (introduced)
- Illinois (introduced)
- Indiana (introduced)
- Ireland (introduced)
- Irkutsk (introduced)
- Kansas (introduced)
- Khabarovsk (introduced)
- Krasnoyarsk (introduced)
- Louisiana (introduced)
- Maine (introduced)
- Manitoba (introduced)
- Maryland (introduced)
- Masachusettes (introduced)
- Mexico Northwest (introduced)
- Michigan (introduced)
- Minnesota (introduced)
- Missouri (introduced)
- Montana (introduced)
- New Brunswick (introduced)
- New Hampshire (introduced)
- New Jersey (introduced)
- New South Wales (introduced)
- New York (introduced)
- New Zealand North (introduced)
- New Zealand South (introduced)
- Newfoundland (introduced)
- North Carolina (introduced)
- Nova Scotia (introduced)
- Ohio (introduced)
- Ontario (introduced)
- Oregon (introduced)
- Pennsylvania (introduced)
- Poland (introduced)
- Primorye (introduced)
- Prince Edward I. (introduced)
- Queensland (introduced)
- Québec (introduced)
- Sakhalin (introduced)
- Saskatchewan (introduced)
- South Australia (introduced)
- South Carolina (introduced)
- Taiwan (introduced)
- Tasmania (introduced)
- Texas (introduced)
- Uruguay (introduced)
- Utah (introduced)
- Vermont (introduced)
- Virginia (introduced)
- West Siberia (introduced)
- West Virginia (introduced)
- Wisconsin (introduced)
- Wyoming (introduced)
Additional Images
Flower
Taken Mar 18, 2019 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 28, 2017 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 4, 2019 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 21, 2019 by jose (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 18, 2019 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Oct 31, 2019 by Jorge (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 27, 2022 by Lopez (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 29, 2017 by 1 (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 15, 2022 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 2, 2021 by Darren Giddins (cc-by-sa)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Habit
Taken May 6, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 9, 2020 by Florent Portalez (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 24, 2022 by Ylona Ramond (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 15, 2022 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 1, 2018 by Catherine Namin (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Feb 20, 2021 by sophie begin (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 28, 2021 by La Fanny (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 22, 2019 by Allan K (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 7, 2020 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 15, 2022 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Nov 12, 2021 by Gaël Herve (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 18, 2022 by huy HO (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 23, 2021 by kon nik (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 4, 2016 by Tela Botanica − jean-marie PAGNIER (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 7, 2020 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Apr 28, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 16, 2021 by Coudijzer Geert (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 26, 2021 by Hélène (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 17, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 6, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5334217)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30017594-2)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Fumaria officinalis L.)
Specifications
Growth habit: Forb/herb
Growth
Ph maximum: 7.0
Ph minimum: 6.5
Light: 8
Atmospheric humidity: 5
Bloom months: [‘apr’, ‘may’, ‘jun’, ‘jul’, ‘aug’, ‘sep’]
Soil nutriments: 7