Intro: Erect annual/biennial found in woodlands, fens, barrens, rock outcrops, meadows, wet pastures and grassy openings, usually over mafic rocks.

Stems: Stems arising from a basal rosette, mostly unbranched, purple-tinged, hairy.

Leaves: Basal leaves vary from oblong-oval to elliptic or linear, 1-3 in. long, with entire margins, though tips may be irregularly incised); stem leaves alternate, to 3 in. long and often deeply divided into 3-5 linear or oblong segments.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers in a dense terminal spike, with showy bright red (or red-tipped), hairy, 3- to 5-lobed bracts that are more prominent than the greenish-yellow flowers. The corolla is tubular with 2 lips, one much longer than the other and enclosing the stamens; it is included within, and barely surpassing, the 2-lobed, tubular calyx, which may be red.

Fruits: Fruit an oblong, pointed capsule.

Comments: Semi-parasitic on a variety of hosts.

Height: 1-2 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect annual/biennial found in woodlands, fens, barrens, rock outcrops, meadows, wet pastures and grassy openings, usually over mafic rocks.

stems: Stems arising from a basal rosette, mostly unbranched, purple-tinged, hairy.

leaves: Basal leaves vary from oblong-oval to elliptic or linear, 1-3 in. long, with entire margins, though tips may be irregularly incised); stem leaves alternate, to 3 in. long and often deeply divided into 3-5 linear or oblong segments.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers in a dense terminal spike, with showy bright red (or red-tipped), hairy, 3- to 5-lobed bracts that are more prominent than the greenish-yellow flowers. The corolla is tubular with 2 lips, one much longer than the other and enclosing the stamens; it is included within, and barely surpassing, the 2-lobed, tubular calyx, which may be red.

fruits: Fruit an oblong, pointed capsule.

comments: Semi-parasitic on a variety of hosts.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: eastern United States