This is the less common of our two native Louseworts and it is not as commonly found as Pedicularis sylvatica which occurs frequently throughout the country. Quite distinctive, it stands about 60 cm tall, an erect, almost hairless plant. It's an annual or biennial which has one single, branching stem which bears deep pink, open-lipped flowers (20-25 mm) with four little teeth on the upper lip. The calyx is two-lipped and downy. Oblong in outline, the feathery leaves are deeply divided with toothed lobes. This wildflower is usually found on acid soils, bogs, moors, fens and marshes. It flowers from May to September, is a native plant and belongs to the Orobanchaceae family.
My first record of this wildflower is in Pollardstown Fen, County Kildarein 2010 when I also photographed it.
If you are satisfied you have correctly identified this plant, please submit your sighting to the National Biodiversity Data Centre
