Pedicularis bracteosa

Pedicularis bracteosa
Inflorescence

Secure (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Orobanchaceae
Genus: Pedicularis
Species:
P. bracteosa
Binomial name
Pedicularis bracteosa

Pedicularis bracteosa also known as bracted lousewort[2] is a flowering deciduous perennial plant with alternating cauline leaves that are linear/oblong to lanceolate, approximately 1 to 7 cm long. It has fibrous roots and grows to approximately 1 meter high. Its flowers form in densely clustered spike raceme, and range in color from yellow to bronze to red to purple. Its distribution is found in western North America including New Mexico,[3] Colorado, Montana,[4] mountainous parts of Washington[5] and California,[6] and in British Columbia.[7][8]

Historically, the leaves have been used as an alternative treatment for skeletal muscle relaxation.[9][10][11]

Taxonomy

Pedicularis bracteosa was scientifically described and named in 1838 by George Bentham. The species is classified in the genus Pedicularis as part of the family Orobanchaceae. It has eight accepted varieties according to Plants of the World Online.[12]

  • Pedicularis bracteosa var. atrosanguinea – British Columbia and Washington[13]
  • Pedicularis bracteosa var. bracteosa – Alberta, British Columbia, Washington, Idaho, and Montana[14]
  • Pedicularis bracteosa var. canbyi – Idaho and Montana[15]
  • Pedicularis bracteosa var. flavida – Washington, Oregon, and California[16]
  • Pedicularis bracteosa var. latifolia – British Columbia, Idaho, and Washtington[17]
  • Pedicularis bracteosa var. pachyrhiza – Eastern Washington and Oregon[18]
  • Pedicularis bracteosa var. paysoniana – The Rocky Mountain states from Montana to New Mexico[19]
  • Pedicularis bracteosa var. siifolia – Eastern Washington, Idaho, and Montana[20]

All the varieties except for bracteosa were formerly described as species and it has thirteen synonyms in total.[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]

Table of Synonyms
Name Year Rank Synonym of: Notes
Pedicularis atrosanguinea Pennell & J.W.Thomps. 1934 species var. atrosanguinea ≡ hom.
Pedicularis bracteosa var. montanensis M.E.Jones 1910 variety var. bracteosa = het.
Pedicularis bracteosa subsp. paysoniana (Pennell) W.A.Weber 1983 subspecies var. paysoniana ≡ hom.
Pedicularis canbyi A.Gray 1886 species var. canbyi ≡ hom.
Pedicularis flavida Pennell 1934 species var. flavida ≡ hom.
Pedicularis latifolia Pennell 1934 species var. latifolia ≡ hom.
Pedicularis montanensis Rydb. 1897 species var. bracteosa = het.
Pedicularis pachyrhiza Pennell 1934 species var. pachyrhiza ≡ hom.
Pedicularis paddoensis Pennell 1934 species var. latifolia = het.
Pedicularis paysoniana Pennell 1934 species var. paysoniana ≡ hom.
Pedicularis recutita Pursh 1813 species var. bracteosa = het., nom. illeg.
Pedicularis siifolia Rydb. 1907 species var. siifolia ≡ hom.
Pedicularis thompsonii Pennell 1934 species var. latifolia = het.
Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym ; = heterotypic synonym

Names

The species name bracteosa is Botanical Latin for having bracts.[21] It is similarly known by the common names bracted lousewort, as well as towering lousewort, tall lousewort, or fernleaf for its size and appearance.[22]

  • Pedicularis bracteosa leaf structure
  • Pedicularis bracteosa flower detail
  • Pedicularis bracteosa in flower
  • Mary Vaux Walcott, c.1917

References

Citations

  1. ^ NatureServe 2025.
  2. ^ "Pedicularis bracteosa bracted lousewort". Burke Herbarium. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Pedicularis bracteosa". Wildflowers of New Mexico. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Bracted Lousewort". Montana Field Guide. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  5. ^ "Pedicularis Bracteosa". Flora of Eastern Washington and Adjacent Idaho. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  6. ^ "Pedicularis bracteosa Califlora". Calflora. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  7. ^ "Common alpine flowers: bracted lousewort". Parks Canada. 18 February 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  8. ^ Patterson, Patricia A.; Neiman, Kenneth E.; Tonn, Jonalea R. (1985). Field Guide to Forest Plants of Northern Idaho (PDF). Ogden, Utah: United States Department of Agriculture. p. 162. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  9. ^ Yarnell, Eric (October 2017). "Analgesic Herbs". Alternative and Complementary Therapies. 23 (6): 246–255. doi:10.1089/act.2017.29135.eya. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  10. ^ Kloos, Scott (2017). Pacific Northwest Medicinal Plants. Timber Books. p. 257. ISBN 9781604698077.
  11. ^ Rayburn, Deborah (2007). Let's Get Natural with Herbs. Ozark Mountain Publishing. p. 277. ISBN 9781886940956. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  12. ^ POWO 2025a.
  13. ^ a b POWO 2025b.
  14. ^ a b POWO 2025c.
  15. ^ a b POWO 2025d.
  16. ^ a b POWO 2025e.
  17. ^ a b POWO 2025f.
  18. ^ a b POWO 2025g.
  19. ^ a b POWO 2025h.
  20. ^ a b POWO 2025i.
  21. ^ Heil et al. 2013, p. 698.
  22. ^ Pierce & Pierce 2001, p. 85.

Sources

Books
Web sources
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