XPedicularis bracteosa - Fernleaf LousewortX
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Fernleaf Lousewort -or- Bracted Lousewort, specifically Payson's Lousewort (Pedicularis bracteosa), family was Scrophulariaceae (Figwort) - now in Orobanchaceae (Broomrape)
According to the USDA Plant database, there is only one variety of this lousewort in the state of Wyoming - Payson's Lousewort - Pedicularis bracteosa var. paysoniana.
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.
Flower -
Plant location: Sighted in the wonderful Medicine Bow National Park, Wyoming, hiking the Shelf Lakes Trail. The date was July 22, 2009.Plant -
Bloom season: Flowers only in June and July.Foliage -
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