Whorled lousewort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whorled lousewort |
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Pedicularis verticillata, also known as the whorled lousewort, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the plant family Orobanchaceae. You can find this plant growing in places like Alaska, the northwestern parts of Canada, and all over China. It likes to grow in high places, usually between 2,100 and 4,400 meters (about 6,900 to 14,400 feet) above sea level. Its scientific name, verticillata, means "whorled," which describes how its leaves or flowers grow in circles around the stem.
What the Whorled Lousewort Looks Like
This plant is a perennial, which means it grows back year after year. It can reach a height of about 15 to 35 centimeters (about 6 to 14 inches).
Stems and Leaves
The stems of the whorled lousewort stand straight up. They have tiny hairs that grow in four straight lines along them. The leaves have stalks, called petioles, that are about 3 centimeters (just over an inch) long and are white. The main part of the leaf, called the leaf-blade, is shaped like a long oval or a spearhead. These leaf-blades are typically 2.5 to 3 centimeters (about 1 to 1.2 inches) long and 1 to 1.2 centimeters (about 0.4 to 0.5 inches) wide, though some can be wider. Both the leaves on the stem and those at the base of the plant are about the same length.
Flowers and Seeds
The plant has a red part called a calyx, which is about 6 millimeters (0.2 inches) long and shaped like an egg. The flowers grow in a dense cluster called a raceme and are white. The petals, which form the corolla, are purple and about 1.3 centimeters (0.5 inches) long. The tube part of the flower is bent. There's a special part of the flower called the galea, which is curved like a sickle, about 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) long, and rounded at the front.
After the flowers, the plant produces a seed pod, called a capsule. These capsules are 1 to 1.5 centimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) long and 4 to 5 millimeters (0.16 to 0.2 inches) wide. They are pointed at the tip and shaped like a spearhead. Inside, the seeds are about 1.8 millimeters (0.07 inches) long.
