[Louseworts: The Genus Pedicularis in Mt. Adams Country]

Sickletop Lousewort, White Sickletop Lousewort

Pedicularis racemosa var. alba

Synonym: Pedicularis racemosa ssp. alba

Sickletop Lousewort, White Sickletop Lousewort: Pedicularis racemosa var. alba (Synonym: Pedicularis racemosa ssp. alba) - Sickletop Lousewort, White Sickletop Lousewort: Pedicularis racemosa var. alba (Synonym: Pedicularis racemosa ssp. alba)

A white flowered form of sickletop lousewort in bloom along the Pacific Crest Trail #2000 between Killen Creek Meadows and the Killen Creek Trail #113, Mt. Adams Wilderness......August 28, 2020.

Flower of Sickletop Lousewort, White Sickletop Lousewort: Pedicularis racemosa var. alba (Synonym: Pedicularis racemosa ssp. alba)

The photo above shows a close-up frontal view of the flower of sickletop lousewort as seen in Bird Creek Meadows along the Round the Mountain Trail #9, Mt. Adams.........July 19, 2007. Note the 3 broad lobes of the lower lip, while the upper two petals are fused to form a unit not unlike an elephant's trunk.

Sickletop Lousewort, White Sickletop Lousewort: Pedicularis racemosa var. alba (Synonym: Pedicularis racemosa ssp. alba)

The photo above shows a close-up sideview of the calyx of sickletop lousewort as seen in Bird Creek Meadows along the Round the Mountain Trail #9, Mt. Adams........July 19, 2007.

Sickletop Lousewort, White Sickletop Lousewort: Pedicularis racemosa var. alba (Synonym: Pedicularis racemosa ssp. alba) - Sickletop Lousewort, White Sickletop Lousewort: Pedicularis racemosa var. alba (Synonym: Pedicularis racemosa ssp. alba)

Sickletop lousewort as seen along the Round the Mountain Trail #9 east of the South Climb Trail, Mt. Adams Wilderness.........August 13, 2017.

Sickletop Lousewort, White Sickletop Lousewort: Pedicularis racemosa var. alba (Synonym: Pedicularis racemosa ssp. alba)

The photo above shows sickletop lousewort as seen in Bird Creek Meadows along the Round the Mountain Trail #9, Mt. Adams.........July 19, 2007.

Leaf and flower of Sickletop Lousewort, White Sickletop Lousewort: Pedicularis racemosa var. alba (Synonym: Pedicularis racemosa ssp. alba)

The photo above shows a close-up view of the toothed leaf and flower of sickletop lousewort, photographed in meadows immediately north of Hellroaring Creek adjacent to the Island Springs Trail #66 on Yakama Nation lands at the southeastern corner of Mt. Adams.........July 17, 2005. The flower of this variety is pink to purplish with the strongly curved, narrow upper lip often touching the twisted, wide lower lip as seen in the photo. The similar similar var. racemosa has pink to purplish flowers rather than the white flowers of this variety.

Leaf of Sickletop Lousewort, White Sickletop Lousewort: Pedicularis racemosa var. alba (Synonym: Pedicularis racemosa ssp. alba)

The photo above shows a close-up view of the toothed leaf of sickletop lousewort, photographed in meadows immediately north of Hellroaring Creek adjacent to the Island Springs Trail #66 on Yakama Nation lands at the southeastern corner of Mt. Adams..........July 17, 2005. This the only species of lousewort in the Cascades to have simple leaves. The blades are roughly lanceolate in outline.

Sickletop Lousewort, White Sickletop Lousewort: Pedicularis racemosa var. alba (Synonym: Pedicularis racemosa ssp. alba)

The photo above shows the upper stem, simple, serrate leaves and pinkish flowers of sickletop lousewort, photographed in meadows immediately north of Hellroaring Creek adjacent to the Island Springs Trail #66 on Yakama Nation lands at the southeastern corner of Mt. Adams........July 17, 2005. Note that the flowers arise singly from the upper leaf axils.

Sickletop Lousewort, White Sickletop Lousewort: Pedicularis racemosa var. alba (Synonym: Pedicularis racemosa ssp. alba)

The photo above shows a cluster of sickletop lousewort as seen along the Shorthorn Trail #16 in the Mt. Adams Wilderness..........August 24, 2008.

Paul Slichter