Pedicularis canadensis Linnaeus. Common name: Eastern Lousewort, Wood-betony. Phenology: (Mar-) Apr-May; May-Jul. Habitat: Moist to dry forests and woodlands, streambanks, prairies. Distribution: ME, QC, and MB south to ne. FL, FL Panhandle, and e. TX.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: Robart in FNA (2019) includes Rocky Mountain plants treated by others as P. fluviatilis A.A. Heller or at infraspecific rank under P. canadensis as a taxonomically undistinguished part of P. canadensis; we provisionally retain this taxon as separate at species rank. Var. dobbsii Fernald, alleged to differ in having nearly solitary flowering stems and stoloniform basal offsets, may warrant additional study.
Other Comments: P. canadensis is variable in corolla color, with yellow, red, or red and yellow bicolored flowers.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Fl7, G, GW2, K4, Mi, Mo3, NcTx, NY, Pa, RAB, S, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3, WV, Pennell (1935); < Pedicularis canadensis L. — FNA17, GrPl; > Pedicularis canadensis L. ssp. canadensis — NE; > Pedicularis canadensis L. var. canadensis — F, Il; > Pedicularis canadensis L. var. dobbsii Fernald — F, Il; Pedicularis canadensis L. Basionym: Pedicularis canadensis L. 1767
Links to other floras: < Pedicularis canadensis - FNA17
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Great Plains: FACU
- Midwest: FACU
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU
Heliophily ⓘ: 5
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Low-growing perennial found in moist to dry forests and woodlands, and along stream banks.
Stems: Stems very hairy and green, though sometimes red-tinged red; often forms small colonies.
Leaves: Basal leaves lance-shaped, to 6 in. long and 2 in. wide, pinnately lobed; stem leaves alternate, similar but smaller.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in a dense spike (to 2 in. long), which later elongates; yellow and purplish-red (occasionally all red or all yellow); bilaterally symmetric; tubular and split into 2 lips, the upper forming a slender hood that arches over the shorter lower lip.
Fruits: Fruit a lance-shaped capsule.
Comments: A partially parasitic species.
Height: 4-16 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Low-growing perennial found in moist to dry forests and woodlands, and along stream banks.
stems: Stems very hairy and green, though sometimes red-tinged red; often forms small colonies.
leaves: Basal leaves lance-shaped, to 6 in. long and 2 in. wide, pinnately lobed; stem leaves alternate, similar but smaller.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in a dense spike (to 2 in. long), which later elongates; yellow and purplish-red (occasionally all red or all yellow); bilaterally symmetric; tubular and split into 2 lips, the upper forming a slender hood that arches over the shorter lower lip.
fruits: Fruit a lance-shaped capsule.
comments: A partially parasitic species.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern North America to n. Mexico
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