Subalpine, alpine. Woodlands. Summer.
Kilpacker Trail, July 22, 2004.

Pedicularis bracteosa is common in subalpine woods.  Its delicate, fern-like leaves precede a tall flower stalk bearing yellow, beaked flowers.  It is common to find a dozen or more of this plant near each other.   P. bracteosa can be confused with its taller, slightly less common cousin, Pedicularis procera (see below) but the latter is much taller and stouter and its larger light yellow/white flowers are tinged with rusty streaks.

"Bracteosa" means "bearing bracts".  Thomas Drummond and David Douglas are each given credit for being the first to collect this plant for science -- probably in 1827.  Drummond found it in "Shady alpine woods of the Rocky Mountains" (as quoted in Intermountain Flora), probably in the Canadian Rockies.  Douglas found it in "Northwest America".

Subalpine, alpine. Woodlands. Summer.
Navajo Lake Trail, July 6, 2004.

Subalpine, alpine. Woodlands, openings, meadows. Summer.
Sharkstooth Trail, July 15, 2004.
American Basin, July 24, 2007.

This delicate plant shows itself only at high altitudes, most frequently above tree line.  Like its lower elevation cousins, P. bracteosa and P. procera, P. parryi has light yellow, beaked flowers and fern-like leaves.  Notice the resemblance of its leaves to those of Elephant Heads on the white and pink Pedicularis page. The top photograph, taken at 12,000 feet, shows a Pedicularis parryi just four inches tall.  The bottom photograph shows the lovely red/purple streaking on the flower stalk between flowers.

"Parryi" is for eminent 19th century botanist Charles Parry who collected this in 1861 and had it described by Asa Gray in 1862. (More biographical information.)

Montane, subalpine. Woodlands, openings. Summer.
Groundhog Meadow Trail, July 31, 2004.

Pedicularis procera can grow to be a giant of five feet.  Its large, beaked flowers are a creamy yellow with streaks of orange-red.  It is fairly common and very obvious in moist forests and forest openings in the higher mountains, first attracting attention as it emerges from the ground with large, fern-like leaves.  It is common for a number of plants to be found near each other and it is common for the flower head to be nipped off by Deer and Elk.

"Procera" is Latin for "tall".  Charles Parry collected this in the mountains west of Denver in 1861 and had it described by Asa Gray in 1862.

Montane, subalpine. Woodlands, openings. Summer.
Groundhog Meadow Trail, July 3 1, 2004.

Click for more Pedicularis procera photographs.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Pedicularis bracteosa

Range map for Pedicularis parryi

Range map for Pedicularis procera