Pedicularis ornithorhyncha

Bird's-beak Lousewort

Bird's-beak Lousewort
aka Duck’s Bill.The upper hooded lip of this curious little purple flower extends to form a straight beak which is less than 1/4″ (2 – 4 mm) long with the overall length of the right-angled flower head is about 1/2″. The flowers cluster atop a stem which is 3″‘ – 12″ tall. This lousewort was ‘discovered’ by Dr. William Tolmie on his 1833 Mount Rainier collecting expedition. It blooms often right after snowmelt and is commonly found in heather meadows and moist slopes between 5,500′ to 7,000′ elevation.

Family:

Orobanchaceae - BROOM-RAPE FAMILY

Genus:

Pedicularis from Latin pediculus 'a louse' related to lice infestation

Species:

ornithorhyncha from Greek for 'bird bill'
Photo location: Mazama Ridge Trail and along WLT west of Frozen Lake.