Pedicularis howellii
Howell's lousewort
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Pedicularis howellii (Howell's lousewort) is a native California herb in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by no basal leaves at flower, sickle-shaped flowers.
Howell's lousewort is a native perennial herb found in the northern Klamath Ranges on dry ridges and in open red-fir forest at elevations of 1,500 to 1,900 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces flowers that range from nearly white to light purple, with a distinctive sickle-shaped corolla marked by darker coloration. Growing with erect stems 15 to 45 centimeters tall, it develops a long caudex and displays delicate foliage with widely lanceolate basal leaves divided into 7 to 17 ovate segments. Its leaves are finely divided, with cauline leaves bearing 3 to 5 ovate lobes, each intricately shaped and positioned along the slender stem. The flower's unique structure features a curved upper lip about 5 to 6 millimeters long with a tapered beak, nestled within hairy calyces that add to its subtle botanical charm.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; no basal leaves at flower, sickle-shaped flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry ridges, open red-fir forest
Elevation: 1500-1900 m
California counties: Siskiyou, Del Norte
Outside California: southern Oregon
Bloom period
Pedicularis howellii blooms Jul-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
How to tell it apart
vs Castilleja: Leaves deeply dissected and fern-like with 7+ lobes, not simple or few-lobed.; vs Phacelia: Flowers have closed hood concealing stamens, not open bell/funnel shape.; vs Anigozanthos: Upper lip forms distinctive elephant-head hood, leaves deeply divided fern-like.; vs Melaleuca: Herbaceous perennial with hooded flowers, not woody shrub with brush-like blooms.; vs Achillea: Flowers individually hooded and two-lipped, not tiny in flat-topped clusters.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pedicularis howellii native to California?
Yes. Pedicularis howellii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Pedicularis howellii bloom?
Pedicularis howellii blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Pedicularis howellii grow?
Pedicularis howellii occurs in Siskiyou, Del Norte, at elevations of 1500-1900 m.
What plant family does Pedicularis howellii belong to?
Pedicularis howellii is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Pedicularis.
Is Pedicularis howellii rare or endangered?
Pedicularis howellii carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.