Greenland lousewort

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Greenland lousewort
• bull elephant's-head
• elephant's-head
• elephant's-head lousewort
• little-red-elephants
• pink-elephants
• Elephant's Head
• Elephanthead
• Elephanthead Lousewort
• pink elephants

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pedicularis surrecta
• Pedicularis groenlandica f. pallida
• Elephantella groenlandica var. surrecta
• Pedicularis groenlandica f. gracilis
• Pedicularis groenlandica subsp. surrecta
• Elephantella groenlandica
• Pedicularis groenlandica var. surrecta

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered under Lamiales and placed in the family Orobanchaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Pedicularis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide distribution across several key regions of Subarctic America. It can be found growing within the expansive territories of Alaska and the Yukon. Its range also extends to the northernmost reaches of Nunavut. Additionally, this species is located in the rugged landscapes of Greenland. Finally, its geographical presence reaches into Western Canada, specifically within the province of Alberta.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Pedicularis groelandica is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. As a long-lived species, it follows a cyclical pattern of seasonal growth, typically emerging from its root system to establish foliage and eventually produce flowering stalks. This perennial nature enables the plant to accumulate resources over time, providing it with the resilience necessary to survive the harsh conditions of its natural habitat and to support reproductive efforts in subsequent years.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pedicularis groenlandica is characterized by a growth form classified as both a herb and a forb, exhibiting a non-woody structure. This species is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a liana, maintaining an upright posture through its own structural integrity. It is a terrestrial organism, existing neither as an aquatic nor a semiaquatic species, and it does not function as an epiphyte. In terms of its nutritional strategy, it is an independent plant rather than a parasite. The plant typically reaches a mean height of approximately 0.76 m, contributing to its distinct presence within its natural habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

0.76 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pedicularis groenlandica is characterized by the production of minute seeds that play a critical role in its dispersal and colonization within its natural habitat. The reproductive output is defined by specific seed mass metrics, where the mean seed mass is recorded at 0.0015846 g. The variation within the seed population shows a significant range, with a maximum seed mass of 0.00085 g and a minimum seed mass of 0.000296 g. These small, lightweight seeds facilitate the plant's ability to spread across its environment, ensuring the continuation of the species through precise mass distribution during the reproductive cycle.

Seed mass max:

0.00085 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0015846 g

Seed mass min:

0.000296 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Pedicularis groenlandica has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoid.

Flavonoid

1. Microscopy research and technique

Activities

Pedicularis groenlandica has 4 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antifungal, Antioxidant.

Antibacterial

1. Microscopy research and technique

Antidiabetic

1. Microscopy research and technique

Antifungal

1. Microscopy research and technique

Antioxidant

1. Microscopy research and technique

Conditions

Pedicularis groenlandica has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antidiabetic.

Antidiabetic

1. Microscopy research and technique

Preparations

Pedicularis groenlandica has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanol extract (PGM).

Methanol extract (pgm)

1. Microscopy research and technique