Pedicularis rainierensis
Pedicularis parviflora
Mt. Rainier lousewort
pédiculaire parviflore, small-flower lousewort
basal 2–5, blade lanceolate, 40–80 x 3–20 mm, 2-pinnatifid, margins of adjacent lobes nonoverlapping or slightly overlapping distally, serrate to 2-serrate, surfaces glabrous;
cauline 2–6, blade lanceolate, 15–70 x 5–20 mm, 1- or 2-pinnatifid, margins of adjacent lobes nonoverlapping or slightly overlapping distally, serrate, surfaces glabrous.
basal 0–2, blade elliptic, 3–7 x 2–5 mm, 1- or 2-pinnatifid, margins of adjacent lobes nonoverlapping or slightly overlapping distally, dentate, surfaces glabrous;
cauline 0–12, blade lanceolate or elliptic to deltate, 5–50 x 3–20 mm, 1- or 2-pinnatifid, margins of adjacent lobes nonoverlapping or slightly overlapping distally, serrate, surfaces glabrous.
simple, 1–4, exceeding basal leaves, each 10–50-flowered;
bracts lanceolate or subulate to trullate, 10–15 x 1–2 mm, undivided or pinnatifid, proximal margins entire, distal serrate, surfaces glabrous or tomentose.
simple or paniculate, 1–4, exceeding basal leaves, each 3–12-flowered;
bracts deltate to trullate, 5–30 x 3–15 mm, 1- or 2-pinnatifid, margins serrate, surfaces glabrous or slightly arachnoid.
1–3.5 mm.
1–2.5 mm.
calyx 7.5–11 mm, hispid to tomentose, lobes 5, linear to narrowly triangular, 4–5 mm, apex entire, glabrous or ciliate;
corolla 16–19 mm, tube light or dark yellow, 8–10 mm;
galea light or dark yellow, 8–9 mm, beakless, margins entire medially and distally, apex arching beyond abaxial lip;
abaxial lip light or dark yellow, 4–5 mm.
calyx 5.5–8 mm, glabrous, lobes 2(–4), deltate, 2–3.5 mm, apex pinnatifid, sometimes 2-fid into triangular lobes, entire, glabrous;
corolla 8–16 mm, tube light pink to purple, 5–11 mm;
galea purple, 3–6 mm, beakless, margins 1-toothed medially, entire distally, apex arching slightly over abaxial lip;
abaxial lip pink to purple, sometimes purple-spotted, 2–5 mm.
Pedicularis rainierensis
Pedicularis parviflora
Pedicularis rainierensis is known from Mt. Rainier and the Crystal Mountain area. The species is easily confused with P. bracteosa var. latifolia, which often occurs in the same meadows. While the sizes and shapes of their flowers are nearly indistinguishable, P. rainierensis is a much smaller plant with leaves only about three fourths the size, proximal leaf lobes less than one fifth the size, inflorescences about one half the length, and the number of flowers greatly reduced in comparison to those of P. bracteosa var. latifolia.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Pedicularis parviflora belongs to a complex of taxa [including P. parviflora var. macrodontis (Richardson) S. L. Welsh, and P. pennellii] that have traditionally been treated as species, subspecies, or varieties. Two features unite this group: a highly branched paniculate raceme and a tooth on each medial margin of the galea covered with pyriform glands on the inner surface. Lack of apical teeth sets P. parviflora apart from P. palustris and P. pennellii, which have both sets of teeth.
The distinction of Pedicularis macrodontis is not clear. With a galea that lacks apical teeth, it is clearly associated with P. parviflora, but there are no unique characters to set it apart as a distinct species; all foliar and floral features are very similar. A number of intermediate specimens were seen, suggesting a lack of reproductive barriers; treatment as a variety of P. parviflora, following S. L. Welsh (1974), may be warranted, but further research is required before recognizing it as a taxon.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
WA
Flora NW
PNW Herbaria
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
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