Pedicularis canadensis (Wood Betony)

Plant Info

Also known as:	Canadian Lousewort, Common Lousewort
Genus:	Pedicularis
Family:	Scrophulariaceae (Figwort)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	native
Habitat:	sun to part shade; average to dry prairies, open woods
Bloom season:	spring to early summer
Plant height:	4 to 16 inches
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Rice Creek Trail Corridor

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Detailed Information

Flower:

Flowers are in a thick spike up to 3½ inches long at the top of the stem. Individual flowers are yellow, rarely reddish brown, ½ to 1 inch long, tubular with the upper lip longest and curving over the lower lip like a hood. The lower lip may be white.

The leafy bracts are lobed and toothed, with long hairs around the edges. The bracts are twisted so that the flowers are turned sideways. From the top of the plant the arrangement resembles a pinwheel.

Leaves and stem:

Leaves are mostly basal, up to 6 inches long and 2 inches wide, with many deeply cut, toothed, rounded, often wavy lobes around the edges and a long stalk sparsely covered in long white hairs. A few leaves much smaller than the basal leaves are also alternately attached on the stem. The main stem is densely hairy. Leaves and stem may be green or tinged red.

Fruit:

Fruit is an angular capsule about ½ inch long, containing many small seeds.

Notes:

Wood Betony tends to grow in clumps and is partially parasitic. The leaves and flowers are similar to related species Swamp Lousewort (P. lanceolata) but that is a larger plant, has opposite leaves with shallower lobes, and doesn't bloom until August.

More photos

• Wood Betony plants
• a colony of plants
• first sprouts of spring
• more flowers

Photos by K. Chayka taken at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park and Rice Creek Trail Corridor April 2008, May and July 2009. Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken at a postage stamp remnant in Lino Lakes.

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