Pedicularis hirsuta

Plants 3–15 cm. Leaves: basal 3–10, blade elliptic to lanceolate, 5–20 x 2–5 mm, 1(or 2)-pinnatifid, margins of adjacent lobes nonoverlapping or slightly overlapping distally, serrate, surfaces glabrous; cauline 3–10, blade lanceolate to oblanceolate, 5–30 x 1–7 mm, 1-pinnatifid, margins of adjacent lobes nonoverlapping or slightly overlapping distally, serrate, surfaces glabrous. Racemes simple, 1–10, exceeding basal leaves, each 5–25-flowered; bracts lanceolate, 5–15 x 1–5 mm, 1-pinnatifid 1/2–3/4 to midrib, proximal margins entire, distal serrate, surfaces densely wooly. Pedicels 2–5 mm. Flowers: calyx 7–10 mm, densely woolly, lobes 5, triangular, 1–4 mm, apex entire or serrate, glabrous or ciliate; corolla 11–19 mm, tube pale pink, sometimes white, 6–14 mm; galea pale pink, sometimes white, 4–7 mm, beakless, margins entire medially, 1-toothed distally, apex nearly straight to arching slightly over abaxial lip; abaxial lip pale pink, sometimes white, 4–5 mm. 2n = 16.

Phenology: Flowering Jul–Aug.
Habitat: Tundra bogs, stream and lake banks.
Elevation: 0–500 m.

Greenland, Nfld. and Labr. (Labr.), N.W.T., Nunavut, Que., Alaska, Eurasia.

Discussion

Pedicularis hirsuta can be difficult to distinguish from P. lanata. Unlike P. lanata, the galea subapex of P. hirsuta is toothed. Floral surfaces of P. lanata are sparsely to densely hirsute; those of P. hirsuta are glabrous. On fresh specimens, the roots of P. hirsuta are pale yellow; those of P. lanata are bright yellow.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa