Pedicularis parryi

A. Gray

Amer. J. Sci. Arts, ser. 2, 34: 250. 1862.

Common names: Parry's lousewort
Endemic
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 17. Treatment on page 528. Mentioned on page 512.

Plants 7–65 cm. Leaves: basal 4–20, blade elliptic or lanceolate to oblanceolate, 10–70 x 3–15 mm, 1-pinnatifid, margins of adjacent lobes nonoverlapping or slightly overlapping distally, 1- or 2-serrate, surfaces glabrous; cauline 0–20, blade lanceolate, 10–50 x 2–10 mm, 1-pinnatifid, margins of adjacent lobes nonoverlapping or slightly overlapping distally, serrate, surfaces glabrous or tomentose. Racemes simple, 1–10, exceeding basal leaves, each 5–50-flowered; bracts subulate to trullate, 10–25 x 8–10 mm, undivided or +/- lobed, proximal margins entire, distal serrate or crenate, surfaces glabrous or tomentose. Pedicels 2–3 mm. Flowers: calyx 6–10 mm, glabrous or tomentose, lobes 5, triangular to deltate, 1–3 mm, apex entire, glabrous; corolla 14–22 mm, tube white, yellowish, or light purple to purple, 7–15 mm; galea white, yellowish, or light purple to purple, 7–10 mm, beaked, beak straight, 5–8 mm, margins entire medially and distally, apex extending beyond abaxial lip; abaxial lip white, yellowish, or light purple to purple, 4–9 mm. 2n = 16.

Distribution

Ariz., Colo., Idaho, Mont., N.Mex., Utah, Wyo.

Discussion

Subspecies 3 (3 in the flora).

Pedicularis parryi is characterized by a domed galea with a conical beak and light green calyces and floral bracts with dark purple stripes. The beaked galea extends well beyond the expanded lobes of the abaxial lip.

Pedicularis parryi is an alpine complex. Corolla color, number of cauline leaves, and bract margin variation are important features differentiating infraspecific taxa within P. parryi (G. D. Carr 1971, from which the following key is adapted).

Key

1 Corolla tubes +/- purple; calyces tomentose. Pedicularis parryi subsp. purpurea
1 Corolla tubes white or yellowish; calyces glabrous. > 2
2 Cauline leaves (0 or)1–6; bract margins entire or +/- crenate. Pedicularis parryi subsp. parryi
2 Cauline leaves 5–20; bract margins +/- serrate. Pedicularis parryi subsp. mogollonica