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Pedicularis groenlandica (Elephanthead lousewort)
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Pedicularis groenlandica Retz.

Elephanthead lousewort

Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)

Synonyms: Elephantella groenlandica

USDA Symbol: PEGR2

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Shortly after snow melt, purplish, fern-like leaves come up through the grasses and sedges on whose roots this plant is parasitic. A little later, spikes to 18 in. carry showy clusters of pink-purple flowers. The individual flowers resemble an elephant’s face – the upper petals twisted and curled into a long snout. Dense racemes of flowers that are perfect little pink elephant heads (ears, trunk, and all) bloom on leafy stems.

The flower’s charming structure facilitates pollination while at the same time reducing the chances of hybridization with other species. Little Elephant Heads (P. attollens), only to 16 (40 cm) tall, has a corolla marked with white and rose, and head proportions are not so perfectly elephantine - the trunk, raised as if trumpeting, is only as long as the lower lip. It grows from the Cascade Mountains of Oregon to the Sierra Nevada in California.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf: Green
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Pink , Purple
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AK , AZ , CA , CO , ID , MT , NM , NV , OR , UT , WA , WY
Canada: AB , BC , ON , SK
Native Distribution: Canada & AK, s. in U.S. through mts. to NM, AZ & CA
Native Habitat: Cool, moist, mt. meadows; 6000-11,000 ft.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), AK(N), CAN(N), GL(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Moist, especially early, soils.
Conditions Comments: Not Available

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Propagation

Description: Sow seeds near host plants in fall.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Seeds require a damp stratification of 40 degrees for 2-3 months.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

From the Archive

Wildflower Newsletter 1993 VOL. 10, NO.3 - Miss Helen Hayes Memorial, Director's Report, Monarda Medicinal Mints of Distinc...

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Pedicularis groenlandica in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Pedicularis groenlandica in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Pedicularis groenlandica

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-11-23
Research By: TWC Staff

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