Pedicularis lanceolata aka Swamp Lousewort

Pedicularis lanceolata is known as swamp lousewort or swamp woodbetony. It belongs to the broomrape family, Orobanchaceae. Its native range spans central and eastern Canada. It also grows in the north-central and eastern United States. Kew records it as a plant of temperate regions. The RHS lists it as non-native to Britain and Ireland. It is a perennial, rather than an annual plant.

The plant has an upright form and reaches about 3.3 feet [1 metre]. Kew describes it as hemiparasitic, meaning it is partly parasitic. This is a key part of its growth habit. The supplied species records give no width for mature plants. They also offer little detail about its leaves or stems. Its wild habitats include rich meadows, shores, and swamps. Some of these sites have lime-rich soil.

Flowers can be white or yellow, according to Chicago Botanic Garden. That garden lists bloom from July through October. This gives it a place among late-season flowering perennials. Each flower has both male and female organs. The garden also records that the plant attracts birds. The supplied records do not say which birds visit it. Nor do they describe its fruit or seed heads. Its upright shape and pale blooms are its documented garden features.

Full sun and partial shade both suit this species. Plants For A Future lists sandy and loamy soils as suitable. It reports a need for moist soil with good drainage. Its stated soil range includes mildly acid and neutral ground. It also includes alkaline soils, even those with high alkalinity. Chicago Botanic Garden lists USDA hardiness zones 2–7. Woodland edges and sites with dappled shade are listed garden settings. These light levels fit the species' reported tolerance of partial shade.

Plants For A Future records cooked leaves as an edible use. It gives the plant a low food-use score of one out of five. The same source lists no known medicinal or other uses. It reports no known hazards, but that does not prove safety. It also does not flag the plant as weedy. The supplied evidence names no specific pests or diseases. Species-level guidance on establishing this plant remains limited. The longer cultivation notes draw on the genus as a whole.