Pedicularis racemosa
Leafy lousewort
(c) David Anderson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Pedicularis racemosa (Leafy lousewort) is a native California subshrub in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by sprawling habit, only stem leaves, fan-shaped lip.
Leafy lousewort is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern California Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada, and southeastern Sierra Nevada in open conifer forest at elevations of 900 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces white, yellow, or purple flowers with a distinctive down-curved beak on the upper lip, creating an intricate floral structure. Growing with decumbent stems 12 to 80 centimeters tall that branch toward the tip, it forms a sprawling, somewhat open habit. Its cauline leaves are 2 to 10 centimeters long, narrowly lanceolate with serrated or toothed edges, creating a delicate green backdrop for its unique flowers. The fruit is lance-shaped, measuring 10 to 16 millimeters long, with smooth seeds nestled within.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; sprawling habit, only stem leaves, fan-shaped lip
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open conifer forest
Elevation: 900-2300 m
California counties: Plumas, Nevada, Siskiyou, Humboldt, Placer, Butte, Trinity, Sierra, Yuba, Del Norte
Outside California: to western Canada, Wyoming, New Mexico
Bloom period
Pedicularis racemosa blooms Jun-Aug.
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 racemosa native to California?
Yes. Pedicularis racemosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Pedicularis racemosa bloom?
Pedicularis racemosa blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Pedicularis racemosa grow?
Pedicularis racemosa occurs in Plumas, Nevada, Siskiyou, Humboldt, Placer, Butte, Trinity, Sierra and other counties, at elevations of 900-2300 m.
What plant family does Pedicularis racemosa belong to?
Pedicularis racemosa is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Pedicularis.
What habitat does Pedicularis racemosa grow in?
Pedicularis racemosa grows in Open conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.