Pedicularis howellii
Pedicularis capitata
Howell lousewort, Howell's lousewort, Howell's pedicularis
capitate lousewort, pédiculaire capitée
basal 1–4, blade elliptic to lanceolate, 20–60 x 15–40 mm, undivided or 1-pinnatifid, margins of adjacent lobes nonoverlapping or slightly overlapping distally, serrate, surfaces glabrous;
cauline 10–12, blade ovate to lanceolate, 25–60 x 15–40 mm, undivided or 1-pinnatifid, sometimes auricled, margins of adjacent lobes nonoverlapping or slightly overlapping distally, entire or serrate to crenate, surfaces glabrous or scattered woolly along main vein.
basal 2 or 3, blade ovate or elliptic, 10–40 x 5–20 mm, 2(or 3)-pinnatifid, margins of adjacent lobes nonoverlapping or extensively overlapping distally, serrate, surfaces glabrous or hirsute;
cauline 0–2, blade elliptic, 5–25 x 5–10 mm, 2-pinnatifid, margins of adjacent lobes nonoverlapping or extensively overlapping distally, serrate, surfaces scattered hispid.
simple, 1–8, exceeding basal leaves, each 15–40-flowered;
bracts trullate to cordate, 6–8 x 4–8 mm, undivided, proximal margins entire, distal entire, surfaces glabrous or tomentose.
simple, capitate, 1 or 2, exceeding basal leaves, each 2–8-flowered;
bracts subulate to narrowly lanceolate, 10–20(–50) x 6–8 mm, undivided proximally, undivided or 1- or 2-pinnatifid distally, proximal margins entire, distal serrate, surfaces sparsely tomentose.
2.5–3 mm.
2–3 mm.
calyx 6–6.5 mm, tomentose, lobes 5, triangular, 1.5–2 mm, apex entire, ciliate;
corolla 10–13 mm, tube white, 6–8 mm;
galea white, apically sometimes tinged with red to violet, 3.5–5 mm, beaked, beak straight, 1–2 mm, margins entire medially and distally, apex extending beyond abaxial lip;
abaxial lip white, 1.5–2 mm.
calyx 10–15 mm, hirsute, lobes 5, triangular to spatulate, 4–6 mm, apex serrate, glabrous;
corolla 19–40 mm, tube light yellow, sometimes cream to pink, 5–20 mm;
galea light yellow, sometimes cream to pink, apically sometimes diffuse purple, 12–20 mm, beakless, margins entire medially and distally, apex arching beyond abaxial lip;
abaxial lip light yellow, sometimes cream to pink, 10–15 mm.
= 16 (Asia).
Pedicularis howellii
Pedicularis capitata
Pedicularis howellii is found in the Siskiyou Mountains along the California/Oregon border; it has undivided distal leaves. The division of the proximal leaves into irregular and asymmetric lobes, sometimes appearing auricled, is a unique feature of this species.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Inflorescences of Pedicularis capitata display no more than five clustered flowers; the long, vertical corolla tube and curved galea that arches over the appressed, broad lobes of the abaxial lip are distinctive. The tip of the galea can be the same color as the corolla tube and abaxial lip but sometimes is a diffuse pink to purple and not distinctly bicolored as in the galeas of P. flammea or P. oederi, with which it is often confused.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
CA
OR
Flora NW
PNW Herbaria
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
BC
