Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Equisetopsida - Order: Lamiales - Family: Orobanchaceae
Louseworts are semi-parasitic plants taking part of their nutrients from the roots of surrounding plants. The flowers of louseworts are reminiscent of deadnettle flowers, but it is the feathery-looking leaves of louseworts that generally set them apart.
Each lousewort leaf is deeply divided into what look like smaller leaves, also lobed, and in the case of Pedicularis verticillata, which is sometimes referred to as Whorled Lousewort, the leaves grow in a circular formation (in whorls) around the stem. The blunt-topped flower spikes of this perennial plant are densely packed with two-lipped, deep pink flowers that are interspersed with bracts. Most plants are between 10 and 20mm tall but exceptionally Verticillate Lousewort can reach a height of 30mm.
Pedicularis verticillata is found in mountainous areas throughout much of Central and Northern Europe including Slovenia, Austria, Switzerland and Germany as well as parts of Scandinavia and Russia. This species is also known to occur in some parts of Canada, the USA and much of China.
This alpine plant thrives in stony and rocky meadows.
Verticillate Lousewort flowers from May intil August, depending on altitude.
The genus name Pedicularis comes from the Latin 'pediculus,' meaning 'of lice' - a reference to an ancient (but now known to be unfounded) belief that livestock that eat these plants will become infected by lice. This plant's specific epithet verticillata also comes from Latin, where verticillus means 'whorl' - a reference to the arrangement of leaves around the stem.
The specimens shown on this page were photographed in meadows in Slovenia in late May.