# curved-beak lousewort (*Pedicularis contorta*) Curved-beak lousewort is a special plant with unique, curved flowers. It grows in rocky areas and is often found in beautiful meadows, adding color to nature. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![curved-beak lousewort](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pedicularis_contorta_7355.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pedicularis_contorta_7355.JPG) ## Appearance The curved-beak lousewort has striking yellowish-green flowers, shaped distinctly like a narrow, curved bird's beak. Its leaves are deeply cut, appearing fern-like and often clustered near the base, creating a bushy low-growing plant. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Orobanchaceae - **Genus:** Pedicularis ## Interesting facts - It only grows in western North America, high up in mountain meadows! - Its "lousewort" name comes from an old belief it cured livestock of lice! - Its yellowish-green flowers can sometimes show a lovely purple blush! - The tiny seeds are carried far by mountain winds to find new homes! ## Special abilities - **Root Robber:** Curved-beak lousewort can connect its roots to nearby plants, 'borrowing' water and nutrients to help it thrive. - **Mountain Master:** It has adapted to grow in harsh mountain environments, surviving cold winds and thin soils where few other plants can. - **Bee Beacon:** Its uniquely shaped flowers guide specific bumblebees, ensuring efficient pollination for successful seed production. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-40 cm - **Spread:** 5-20 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Parasitizes:** [Kentucky Bluegrass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/kentucky-bluegrass) (*Poa pratensis*) — taps into its roots for water and nutrients - **Pollinates:** Orange-belted Bumblebee (*Bombus appositus*) — attracted to its unique flower shape and nectar - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — grazes on the plant in mountain meadows ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Tube Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tube-flower): A tube flower has petals fused together at the base, forming a distinct tubular structure that typically holds nectar deep within. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Symbiotic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/symbiotic): Describes a relationship between two different species where they live in close association, often benefiting one or both. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch wild plants unless a grown-up says it's okay. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify curved-beak lousewort? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is curved-beak lousewort? 10-40 cm ### How wide does curved-beak lousewort spread? 5-20 cm ### How big are the flowers on curved-beak lousewort? 1-2 cm ### When does curved-beak lousewort bloom? Summer ### Is curved-beak lousewort edible? No ### Is curved-beak lousewort toxic? None ### What is curved-beak lousewort's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Stagleap Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/stagleap-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Curved-beak Lousewort: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/curved-beak-lousewort)