#pedicularis sylvatica

[thebashfulbotanist]

Lousewort, probably Pedicularis sylvatica, below the Steall Waterfall in Glen Nevis. Pedicularis are often found in acidic, nutrient-poor areas. They’re able to do this because they’re hemiparasitic and “steal” nutrients from the roots of neighboring plants, while also doing some photosynthesis of their own. 

The common name “lousewort” is derived from a 17th century belief that eating Pedicularis would cause livestock to get lice. This wasn’t entirely silly - as Jim Pojar and Andy MacKinnon point out in their field guide to Pacific Northwest plants, there probably was a correlation between livestock being grazed on nutrient-poor areas where Pedicularis live and the livestock being weak and consequently infested with parasites.

[british-wildlife]

Pedicularis sylvatica on Flickr.

"Lousewort (Orobanchaceae) is more common in the westerly parts of the UK and more generally widespread throughout Ireland. It was a member of the Scrophulariaceae (Figwort) family until recently but has now been moved into the Broomrape (Orobanchaceae) family.

Growing to a maximum height of around 20cm Lousewort is a much shorter and more spreading plant than its relative Marsh Lousewort which grows to around 60cm in height.

Lousewort grows in the damp acid soils of heaths, bogs and moors. It is semi-parasitic on the roots of other plants that grow in close proximity to it, and flowers from April to July."

Pedicularis sylvatica at the online atlas of the British and Iris Flora