About Ehrendorferia ochroleuca (Engelm.) Fukuhara
Both the stems and leaves of Ehrendorferia ochroleuca are glaucous. Stems typically grow 1 to 2 meters (3.3 to 6.6 feet) tall, with a recorded maximum height of 4 meters (13 feet) — this is the tallest height among all species in the Fumarioideae subfamily. Leaves are pinnately divided 2 to 4 times. In the first year of growth, leaves form a basal rosette; after this first year, leaves also grow on flowering stems. Up-facing flowers grow in rounded clusters at the tips of stems. Each flower has 2 rounded sepals and 4 dull white petals that have purple tips. The 2 outer petals are pouched at their base and curved outward at their tip. The 2 inner petals are connected at their tip and project out from between the outer petals. Unlike the closely related species Ehrendorferia chrysantha, the flowers of Ehrendorferia ochroleuca have no odor. Hummingbirds visit the flowers to feed on their nectar. The tiny, bumpy seeds develop in a rounded pod that is 1 to 3 centimeters (0.39 to 1.18 inches) long, and tapers to a point at both ends. Unlike many other members of its plant family, the seeds of Ehrendorferia ochroleuca do not have elaiosomes. The seeds do not germinate easily unless they are exposed to smoke; liquid smoke extract is often used to trigger germination when the species is grown in cultivation.
