Pedicularis contorta var. contorta

General:
Perennial herb from a thick stem-base, smooth throughout; stems several, clustered, erect, 15-60 cm tall, unbranched.

Leaves:
Basal leaves long-stalked, lance-oblong in outline, 5-18 cm long, deeply pinnately cleft, the segments linear and toothed; stem leaves alternate, several, reduced and becoming unstalked upward.

Flowers:
Inflorescence an elongate, bracted, terminal spike of numerous flowers, the spike smooth, 5-15 (20) cm long, the bracts narrow, divided, shorter than the flowers; corollas yellowish-white or white, often with pink or purplish markings, 15-20 mm long including the beak, 2-lipped, the upper lip short (4-5 mm), strongly arched, hooded, prolonged into a downcurved beak 6-8 mm long, the lower lip 5-7 mm long, 3-lobed, the lateral lobes often enfolding the beak of the upper lip; calyces 4-5 mm long, 5-toothed, the teeth lanceolate, 1-3 mm long, the upper tooth shortest, the tube somewhat papery between the 5 dark veins; stamens 4.

Fruits:
Capsules, straight, 9-10 mm long; seeds several, about 2 mm long.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia