Pedicularis bracteosa
Plant species in the broomrape family
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pedicularis bracteosa also known as bracted lousewort[2] is a flowering deciduous perennial plant with alternating cauline leaves that are linear/oblong to lanceolate, approximately 1 to 7 cm long. It has fibrous roots and grows to approximately 1 meter high. Its flowers form in densely clustered spike raceme, and range in color from yellow to bronze to red to purple. Its distribution is found in western North America including New Mexico,[3] Colorado, Montana,[4] mountainous parts of Washington[5] and California,[6] and in British Columbia.[7][8]
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| Pedicularis bracteosa | |
|---|---|
| |
| Inflorescence | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Orobanchaceae |
| Genus: | Pedicularis |
| Species: | P. bracteosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Pedicularis bracteosa | |
Historically, the leaves have been used as an alternative treatment for skeletal muscle relaxation.[9][10][11]
Taxonomy
Pedicularis bracteosa was scientifically described and named in 1838 by George Bentham. The species is classified in the genus Pedicularis as part of the family Orobanchaceae. It has eight accepted varieties according to Plants of the World Online.[12]
- Pedicularis bracteosa var. atrosanguinea – British Columbia and Washington[13]
- Pedicularis bracteosa var. bracteosa – Alberta, British Columbia, Washington, Idaho, and Montana[14]
- Pedicularis bracteosa var. canbyi – Idaho and Montana[15]
- Pedicularis bracteosa var. flavida – Washington, Oregon, and California[16]
- Pedicularis bracteosa var. latifolia – British Columbia, Idaho, and Washtington[17]
- Pedicularis bracteosa var. pachyrhiza – Eastern Washington and Oregon[18]
- Pedicularis bracteosa var. paysoniana – The Rocky Mountain states from Montana to New Mexico[19]
- Pedicularis bracteosa var. siifolia – Eastern Washington, Idaho, and Montana[20]
All the varieties except for bracteosa were formerly described as species and it has thirteen synonyms in total.[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]
| Name | Year | Rank | Synonym of: | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pedicularis atrosanguinea Pennell & J.W.Thomps. | 1934 | species | var. atrosanguinea | ≡ hom. |
| Pedicularis bracteosa var. montanensis M.E.Jones | 1910 | variety | var. bracteosa | = het. |
| Pedicularis bracteosa subsp. paysoniana (Pennell) W.A.Weber | 1983 | subspecies | var. paysoniana | ≡ hom. |
| Pedicularis canbyi A.Gray | 1886 | species | var. canbyi | ≡ hom. |
| Pedicularis flavida Pennell | 1934 | species | var. flavida | ≡ hom. |
| Pedicularis latifolia Pennell | 1934 | species | var. latifolia | ≡ hom. |
| Pedicularis montanensis Rydb. | 1897 | species | var. bracteosa | = het. |
| Pedicularis pachyrhiza Pennell | 1934 | species | var. pachyrhiza | ≡ hom. |
| Pedicularis paddoensis Pennell | 1934 | species | var. latifolia | = het. |
| Pedicularis paysoniana Pennell | 1934 | species | var. paysoniana | ≡ hom. |
| Pedicularis recutita Pursh | 1813 | species | var. bracteosa | = het., nom. illeg. |
| Pedicularis siifolia Rydb. | 1907 | species | var. siifolia | ≡ hom. |
| Pedicularis thompsonii Pennell | 1934 | species | var. latifolia | = het. |
| Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym; = heterotypic synonym | ||||
Names
The species name bracteosa is Botanical Latin for having bracts.[21] It is similarly known by the common names bracted lousewort, as well as towering lousewort, tall lousewort, or fernleaf for its size and appearance.[22]
Gallery
Pedicularis bracteosa leaf structure
Pedicularis bracteosa flower detail
Pedicularis bracteosa in flower
Mary Vaux Walcott, c.1917
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