Pedicularis racemosa var. racemosa Douglas ex Benth.
Orobanchaceae (Broom-rape family)
(Previously in Scrophulariaceae)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Ian Gardiner     (Photo ID #16064)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Pedicularis racemosa var. racemosa
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Species Information

General:
Perennial herb from a thick stem-base with coarse fibrous roots, smooth or nearly so throughout; stems usually several, clustered, erect, 15-50 cm tall, unbranched.
Leaves:
Basal leaves lacking or much reduced; stem leaves alternate, numerous, short-stalked to unstalked, narrowly lanceolate, 4-10 cm long, reduced downward, not divided but the margins finely toothed.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a rather loose, elongate, bracted, terminal raceme of several flowers, the lower flowers sometimes stalked in the leaf axils, the bracts (especially the lower ones) leaflike, equalling or longer than the flowers; corollas cream to pinkish-white or purplish, 10-16 mm long, 2-lipped, the upper lip 5-9 mm long, strongly arched, hooded, prolonged into a slender beak 5-7 mm long, the beak curved down and in toward the lower lip, which is 5 mm long and deflexed-spreading; calyces 5-8 mm long, 2-lobed, the lobes obliquely egg-shaped, 1-3 mm long; stamens 4.
Fruits:
Capsules, asymmetrical, 10-16 mm long; seeds several, about 2 mm long.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat and Range

Moist to dry coniferous forests, open rocky slopes and meadows in the montane to subalpine zones; frequent in S BC, south of 53degreeN; S to CA.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia