Wood Betony.Pedicularis lanceolata.Lousewort.
Found in swampy places during August and September.
The sometimes branching stalk, from 1 to 2 or 8 feet in height, is round, shining, and generally smooth, or with an occasional roughness. Light green in color.
The long oval leaf is cut into oblong divisions, and the margin is finely toothed, which increases its resemblance to a fern leaf; the strong ribs show plainly, and the color is pale green, inclining to yellow. The leaves, on short stems, are placed in pairs, which point at right angles to each other.
The corolla has a curious one-sided look, because the curving beak-like upper lip closes so tightly down upon the 3-lobed under lip as to push it askew; its color is a pale and somewhat muddy yellow. The 2-parted calyx is deep, and the tips spread; it is green. The flowers are set within the hold of little curved and notched leaves like bracts, in pairs, forming a terminal spike.
Only two or three flowers bloom at one time, and the withered corollas cling long to the calices, which gives an untidy appearance to the plant. The leaf and calyx are decorative in growth.