Wood Betony
Pedicularis canadensis

Picture Taken May 9, 2001

This attractive plant with spikes of red and yellow flowers is a semi-parasite. This means that, although it contains chlorophyll and can produce its own food, it also attaches to roots of other plants and extracts food and water from these hosts. It is known to parasitize at least 80 species of vascular plants, many of which are trees. The hairy fern-like leaves were thought to harbor lice; another name for this plant is lousewort.

Scrophulariaceae

Figwort Family

Plant Name Index  |  Pictorial Index
April 23  |  May 2  |  May 9
May 17  |  May 29  |  June 11
July 5  |  July 26  |  August 21
September 13