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Pedicularis sp. - A lousewort

Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Equisetopsida - Order: Lamiales - Family: Orobanchaceae

Pedicularis parryi - Parry's Lousewort

Above: A lousewort species flowering on the Alpine Ridge Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park

Louseworts are common in the Rocky Moutains, and some of them are very attractive including the amazing pink Elephanthead - Pediculars groenlandica.

Several louseworts occur throughout the western mountains of North America, and we have seen many in Rocky Mountain National Park. where they grow on open slopes and meadows from medium to very high elevations - up to 13,000 feet.

Louseworts are parasitic and feed on the nutrients gained from penetrating the roots of plants that surrounds them.

The specimen shown on this page was photographed in Rocky Mountain National Park in early July.

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