Taxonomy
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Scientific Name:
Kingdom: Plantae
Division:
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: lanata (Lat. for woolly; referring to the dense woolly hairs on this species) Synonym(s): P. kanei English Name(s):
Woolly Lousewort, Woolly Fernweed
First Nation Names:
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Description
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Structure:
- Plants herbaceous (not woody).
- From a bright lemon-yellow taproot.
- Stems simple (unbranched), 5-25cm high, densely white-woolly.
Leaves:
- Basal and cauline (onstem).
- Lower leaves long petiolate (stalked).
- Bladed narrow, deeply pinnately lobed to pinnately compound.
- Lobes toothed to pinnately lobed.
Reproductive Parts:
- Inflorescence (flower cluster) namy flowered, dense but soon elongating, copiously woolly.
- Flowers perfect (bisexual), irregular in symetry.
- Bracts simmilar to leaves, white-woolly.
- Calyx (sepals) 5-toothed, 4-5mm long.
- Corolla (petals) 15-20mm long, deep pink or rarely white, upper lip slightly arched, lacking teeth.
- 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, 8-13 mm long, ovate in shape with a pointed beak.
- Seeds large, relatively few per plant, with a loosely fitting, ashy-grey, honeycombed seed-coat.
Not to Be Confused With:
- Pedicularis langdorfii (Langdorf's Lousewort) is quite simmilar but is lacking the white-woollyness of these plants.
- Pedicularis vericillata (Whorled Lousewort) which has its stem leaves in whorles and lacks the woollyness of P.lanata (Woolly Lousewort).
- Pedicularis sudetica (Sudenten Lousewort) which has 2 coloured flowers purple upper lip and pink lower lip and few to no stem leaves.
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Biology
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Physiology:
- These plants are partial parasites with no outward sing of differing from normal, self-supporting plants.
Life Cycle:
Seasonal Cycle:
- Leaves deciduous (falling off).
- Plants blooming early July.
- Gone to seed by mid-late July.
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Ecology
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Animal Uses:
- The plant tops are sometimes browsed by cariboo.
- Generally 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:
- Wet to dry stony tundra and heathlands
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Uses
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Modern:
Industrial:
- Roots yield a yellow dye.
- 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 taste like young carrots. They are good boiled or roasted or can be eaten raw.
- 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:
- Roots were used as a tobacco additive by different folks
Medicinal:
Food:
- Flowers are enjoyed by inuit children who suck the nectar from the base of the long tubes.
- Leaves are used for making tea in parts of Russia
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Images
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Plants in bloom in early alipne spring
Plants grow taller throughout the season
Very wooly young flowering stem
Leaves
Illustration from: Illustrated flora of BC |
Range Maps
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World Range: Circumpolar with large gaps, arctic-alpine; in N.A. from southern GL and northern QC to AK, south to BC and AB.
Prov/State Abrev. List
In Yukon: Found throughout the alpine regions |
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