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Photographer: Merel R. Black
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Family Scrophulariaceae
Pedicularis canadensis L. subsp. canadensis
Canadian lousewort, forest lousewort, wood-betony
Pedicularis: from the Latin pediculus meaning "louse," referring to the old English belief that when cattle grazed on these plants, they became infested with lice
canadensis: of or referring to Canada
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| Status: | Native |
| Plant: | erect, perennial, 4"-16" tall forb; short rhizomes forming large clumps, partially parasitic |
| Flower: | yellow (sometimes with a reddish hood), 5-parted, 3/4"-1" long, tubular-shaped, upper lip with 2 small teeth near the hooded tip covering the 4 stamens, lower lip shorter; inflorescence a 1"-2" terminal, leafy, conical spike elongating with age; blooms April-June |
| Fruit: | capsule, opening at the top |
| Leaf: | mostly basal then opposite, finely pinnately-toothed; lower leaves with the stalk longer than the blade, upper leaves smaller and almost stalkless |
| Habitat: | dry to moderate moisture; prairies, woods, forests |
| (Glossary) |
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