Derivation: Prepared by H. R. Toelken

Alternative names: Not Applicable

Description:
Herbs usually with a distinct basal rosette, becoming more or less shrubby as the erect compound inflorescence develops; leaves alternate, often clasping at the base, usually lobed or dissected, exstipulate.

Inflorescence cymose, usually a thyrse with leaf-like bracts; flowers regular, bisexual; sepals 2 or 3, caducous; petals 4 or 6 in two whorls, imbricate and often crumpled in bud; stamens numerous, with anthers 2-celled and dehiscing longitudinally; ovary superior, with 2 or 3 carpels, unilocular, with numerous ovules on parietal placentations.

Fruit a capsule dehiscing by valves or pores; seeds with small embryo and endosperm.

Distribution:  About 26 genera and 200 species chiefly of the north temperate regions of the world but now with many worldwide weeds of cultivation.

Biology: No text

Taxonomic notes: J. Black (1948) included Fumaria in his treatment of the Papaveraceae but it is now generally agreed to recognise the separate families Fumariaceae and Hypecoaceae (with a recent record of Hypecoum).

Key to Genera:

1. Fruits globose to ellipsoid, rarely more than 3 times longer than broad
2. Sepals 3; petals 6	ARGEMONE 1.
2. Sepals 2; petals 4	PAPAVER 4.
1. Fruits long and more or less cylindrical, at least 4 times longer than broad
3. Sepals united into a glabrous calyptra; capsule ribbed	ESCHSCHOLZIA 2.
3. Sepals free, hairy; capsule not ribbed
4. Lobes of leaves usually irregularly toothed, at least 4 mm broad; capsule dehiscing by 2 valves	GLAUCIUM 3.
4. Lobes of leaves linear, 1-2 mm broad, capsule dehiscing by 3 valves	ROEMERIA 5.

Author: Not yet available