Pedicularis lopponica : Lapland Lousewort

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

• Tracheophyta (vascular)
• Spermatophyta (seed bearing)
Angiospermae (enclosed seed)

Class: Dicoteldonae (two seed-leaves)

Family: Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)

Genera: Pedicularis (Lousewort, Fernweed) (Lat. pediculus = a louse; animals who ate these plants were said to be protected from lice.)

Species: lopponica (of Lapland where this species was first described)

English Name(s):

Lapland Lousewort, Lapland Fernweed

First Nation Names:

Structure:

• Plants herbaceous (not woody).
• From a branching rhizome (root stock).
• Stems, 8-25cm tall, simple (unbranched), sparsely pubescent (hairy).

Leaves:

• All cauline (on stem), petioled (stalked) below, sessile (non-stalked) above.
• Blades pinnitified in structure, lanceolate to linear in shape.
• Lobes small, ovate in shape, toothed.

Reproductive Parts:

• Inflorescence (flower cluster) few-flowered, flat-topped.
• Flowers perfect (bisexual), irregular in symetry.
• Calyx (sepals) 3.0-4.5mm long, 2-lobed.
• Bracts leaf like, but smaller.
• Corolla (petals) 11-15mm long, light yellow, upper lip slightly arched, with a toothed beak at right angles at the tip, lower lip 3-lobed.
• Stamens (male parts) 4, in 2 pairs.

Seed:

• Fruit is a capsule.
• Seed capsules flattened, splitting open lenghtwise between the partitions into the central cavity, 6-9mm long, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate in shape, acute (pointed).
• Seeds large, relatively few per plant.

Not to Be Confused With:

• Pedicularis labradorica (Labrador Lousewort) Which can be distinguished by its branched stems.
• Pedicularis oederi (Oeder's Lousewort) whose upper lip of corolla (petals) is beakless.
• Pedicularis capitata (Many-headed Lousewort) which has larger erect flowers and a beakless corolla.

Physiology:

• These plants are partial parasites with no outward sing of differing from normal, self-supporting plants.

Life Cycle:

• Perennial

Seasonal Cycle:

• Leaves deciduous (falling off).

Animal Uses:

• Animals will not eat these plants as they contain poisonous glycosides.
• Their blossoms are typical bee flowers, with landing platforms, abundant nectar, and bright colours.
• It is interesting to note that Pedicularis (Louseworts) and Bombus (Bumblebees) share the same geographic range.

Habitat:

• Dry to moist tundra and heath

Modern:

Industrial:

• Flower stalks, dried, are used for olive green dye.
• Despite its name, no reference to the use of Pedicularis (Louseworts) for repelling lice was found.

Medicinal:

• An infusion using 7-15ml per 250ml water is said to be an effective sedative. It is also said to act as a mild relaxant for skeletal muscles and the cerebruim, queting anxiety and tension.
• The plant fresh or dried has mild astringent and antiseptic properties and is used to stop bleeding of minor injuries.

Food:

• Roots or young flowering stems of all Pedicularis (Louseworts) can be eaten raw or used as a pot-herb.

Traditional Gwich'in:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Other:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food: