Fumaria copreolata
White Fumitory
Climbing Fumitory, Ramping Fumitory, Rampant Fumitory (NZ)
Originates in Europe, Mediterranean, Western Asia, & Nth Africa.
Robust, angular hairless stem, annual vine, climbing & trailing up to 1m long.
Bright green much divided leaves. 2-3divisions nearly to the midrib, triangular or egg shaped segments, 5-15mm long.
Pretty, small white flowers with black to reddish spot on the tips of the petals. Tubular, narrow 10mm by 2mm on stalks that bend downwards. Up to 40 in a cluster of flowers from July to November
. Fruit is a nut-like capsule with 1 seed, smooth, globular, 2mm in diameter also curving downward. Each plant can produce up to 22 500 seeds a year that can remain soil dormant for 20 years.
White Fumitory has various medicinal properties, but should only be used under the consultation of a qualified herbalist.
White Fumitory has not been reported as dangerous to stock. Continual grazing may help control this weed.
Weed of cultivated areas, crops, disturbed sites, shrub lands & gardens. Spread by machinery, clothing, boots & tillage. Ants are a natural dispersal agent as the seed coating is a food source for ants.
Manual removal of small infestations is easily achieved. Although hand pulling must be vigilant & continual to be effective.
Correct identification is extremely important for management with herbicide susceptibility varies between species.
Fumitory hosts a range of fungal pathogens including Peronospora affinis & Alternaria radicina which are both potential biological control agents.