Whorled lousewort

Pedicularis verticillata

Flower name
Whorled lousewort
Scientific name
Pedicularis verticillata
Alias高嶺塩竈, whorled lousewort, ユキワリシオガマ, 雪割塩竈, Pedicularis verticillata
Place of originalpine and cold regions in the northern hemisphere
Place of floweringHigh mountain
Flowering seasonJuly, August

What is Whorled lousewort

Whorled lousewort or Takane shiogama (scientific name: Pedicularis verticillata) is native to alpine and cold regions in the northern hemisphere such as Alaska, Canada, China, and Japan.
It is an annual alpine plant in the family Orobanchaceae.
It grows naturally from Hokkaido to Chubu region in the alpine gravel.
It is similar to the perennial 'Pedicularis apodochila' or 'Miyayama Ogama' (scientific name: Pedicularis apodochila) which is endemic to Japan.

There are 4 tombs on the stem, and about 4 leaves grow in rotation.
The shape of the leaflets is elongated and elliptical, with about 6 pairs of deeply split feathers.
The leaves of P. apodochila also have pinnate fissures, but also lace like carrot leaves.

A large number of flower stems are taken out from the root, and a few purple-colored, lip-shaped florets bloom in a ring on the stem apex.
The corolla tube curves about 1 cm in length. The upper lip is boat-shaped and is about 0.4 cm long.
At the tip of the corolla, P. verticillata has a truncated shape, while P. apodochila has a beak shape.
The lower lip is 0.7 cm in length and splits into three medians, and the medial cleft is slightly smaller.
The fruits are lanceolate 1.5 cm long and pointed.

Detailed information of Whorled lousewort

Generic name: Whorled lousewort , Scientific name: Pedicularis verticillata L., aka:Takane shiogama,
Place of Origin: Alaska, Canada, China, Japan, and other alpine and cold regions in the Northern Hemisphere,
Habitat: Hokkaido to Chubu, Japan Environment: Alpine gravel,
Life type: annual alpine plant, plant height: 10-15 cm, leaf shape: single pinnate compound leaf.