Elephant’s Head

Pedicularis groenlandica

A showy flowering plant in the broomrape family which is known by the common names elephant’s head and elephanthead lousewort because of the long, pointed beak which curves upward, superficially resembling the trunk of an elephant, and the lateral lobes of the flower resemble an elephant’s ears.

This erect plant can grow to a height of 80 centimetres (31 in). Its sharply-toothed fernlike leaves are located low on the stout stem. The stem is topped with a large inflorescence of bright pink to purple or white flowers. Like other louseworts and related broomrape genera, this is a root parasite which obtains nutrients from the roots of other plants by piercing them with haustoria. This plant is found in the high mountain ranges of western North America, particularly the Cascades and High Sierra, much of Canada and Greenland. It grows in wet environments such as riverbanks.

Typically used as a muscle relaxer, anxiety remedy and an aphrodisiac. This is a separate species from pedicularis grandiflora, which goes by the same common name. This species grows in moist areas such as bogs and marshes. It is hemi-parasitic and feeds off the roots of a host plant. We are one of the few suppliers of these rare seeds and herb. These are very high quality pure buds.