Native Plants of the Great Lakes
North Branch Restoration Project:
Native Plant and Seed Collection
Pedicularis Canadensis / Family: Scrophulariaceae
Wood Betony/Lousewort, Swink/Wilhelm # 9
FLOWERING: Mid-April to Mid-June
SEED TIMING: Mid-May through June
HABITAT: Dry woods and dry to wet prairies.
DIAGNOSTIC FEATURES: 6 - 14 inches high. A low hairy plant
topped by a broad whorl of tubular, hooded flowers, yellow, red or
both. The long soft hairy leaves, many of them basal, are deeply
incised and toothed, almost fernlike in appearance.
TO PICK: Plants can be found in bloom and seed at the same
time. The flower blooms from the bottom up. Seeds are ripe when the
pods turn brown. Ideally, it is best to wait until the bottom pods
have dropped their seeds to the ground before picking only the top
pods. The individual pods open at the top and seeds spill out
easily. It is all right to scatter a few seeds around as you are
picking; this plant doesn’t spread far on its own. |
