XCanadian Lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis)X
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Canadian Lousewort -or- Canada Lousewort -or- Wood Betony (Pedicularis canadensis), family Orobanchaceae (Broomrape) - was Scrophulariaceae (Figwort)
A species native to North America, Canada Lousewort is a perennial forb/herb. The number of species belonging in the group varies among botantists. The USDA Plant Database shows 36 species in the genus, while WIKIPEDIA states there are 350-600 species worldwide, quote: 'mostly from the wetter northern temperate zones, as well as from South America. The highest diversity is in eastern Asia, with 352 species accepted in China alone by the Flora of China'. End quote. This graceful specimen captured our fancy greatly with it's symmetrical whorl of odd looking flowers. Some members of the genus are called parrot's beak. From this example it is easy to understand that name.
USES: Records of uses by Native Americans survive for a number of tribes: Potawatomi Root used as a physic. Root used by Prairie Potawatomi for both internal and external swellings. Cherokee Cooked leaves and stems used for food. Used as an ingredient in cough medicine. Infusion of root rubbed on sores. Infusion of dried roots used for anemic conditions. Iroquois Decoction taken to vomit for stomachaches caused by menstruating women. Infusion of smashed roots taken for heart troubles. Compound decoction of plants used as steam bath for sore legs or knees. Compound infusion of whole plants taken for consumption with bad hemorrhage. Cooked and seasoned with salt, pepper or butter. Menominee Root carried on the person who is contemplating making love advances. (how romantic) ALSO: Root used in food to make estranged married people congenial & a love medicine used to return love. Chopped root added to feed to make pony fat and vicious to all but its owner. Poultice of root applied to tumors. Infusion of leaves taken to induce abortion. (away with the fruits of love). Ojibwa Finely cut root secretly added to another's food as an aphrodisiac. (a different form of love) ALSO - Chopped root added to food as a love charm.
Oddly enough:
From the marvelous book by Janis Lindsey Huggins WILD AT HEART is this: 'If using Louseworts for medicine or food use caution. They can absorb toxins from nearby plants. For example, louseworts growing with Senecio species are known to contain their toxic alkaloids'. End quote. AND, while the genus name Pedicularis means 'little louse' and plants from the group were believed to give animals grazing nearby lice...hair and wigs were long ago powdered with the plant's substance to get rid of lice.
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Plant location: Sighted on May 16, 2010 at Meyer Open Space in Colorado. We were hiking the Lodgepole Loop Trail. GPS coordinates: N39?32.374 W105?16.759 - Elevation: 8127'. Found in the following United States: (AL, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV. Colorado is a western-region fringe area where this species is located. The plants are found in the foothills and montane zones. Plant -
Bloom season: April and May. Foliage -
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