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Species Image Gallery (opens in a new window) |
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| THE FIGWORT FAMILY | ||
| The figwort family is very common in Saskatchewan. The leaves are usually opposite, though they may be alternate, whorled, or all basal. The leaf margin may be entire to pinnately or palmately lobed. The flowers are irregular and are commonly 2-lipped. The upper lip usually has two lobes and the lower lip three lobes. Each flower has two or four stamens. If four stamens are present, they are in two groups of two and are usually attached to the petals. The sepals and the petals are commonly fused together. In some species, large, brightly-coloured bracts hide the flowers. The fruit is a many-seeded capsule. | ||
| MUSKEG LOUSEWORT | ||
| LATIN NAME: Pedicularis macrodonta | ||
| WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? | ||
| Muskeg lousewort grows as tall as 60 cm. The leaves are alternate and stalkess. The leaves are deeply lobed with entire or toothed lobes. The flowers are in loose, unbranched clusters or are solitary in the leaf axils. The petals are purple and the upper lip is rounded at the tip. The flowers have four stamens in two groups of two. The fruit is a capsule with a short point at the tip. | ||
| WHERE DOES IT GROW? | ||
| Muskeg lousewort grows in wet marshy fens and bogs. | ||
| WHERE IS IT FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN? | ||
| This plant is found in northern and central Saskatchewan in the Boreal Transition, Mid-Boreal Upland, Athabasca Upland, and Churchill River Upland ecoregions. | ||
| WHY IS IT RARE? | ||
| Muskeg lousewort is vulnerable because it is rare or uncommon in Saskatchewan. No threats are known or anticipated for this species at the present time. | ||
| HOW TO IDENTIFY MUSKEG LOUSEWORT | ||
| * Are the leaves deeply lobed? * Are the petals purple? * Is the upper lip rounded? * Did you find it in northern or central Saskatchewan? |
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| If you answered yes to all of these questions, you may have found muskeg lousewort! | ||
