Pedicularis lanata : Woolly Lousewort

Taxonomy

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:



Description

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.

Biology

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).
  • Plants blooming early July.
  • Gone to seed by mid-late July.

Ecology

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

Uses

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

              Images

              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

              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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