Flower profile
Bracted lousewort
Pedicularis bracteosa
Bracted lousewort is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Wyoming it's most often seen in bloom in June–July.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Wyoming
Quick look
Pedicularis bracteosa also known as bracted lousewort is a flowering deciduous perennial plant with alternating cauline leaves that are linear/oblong to lanceolate, approximately 1 to 7 cm long. It has fibrous roots and grows to approximately 1 meter high. Its flowers form in densely clustered spike raceme, and range in color from yellow to bronze to red to purple.
- It belongs to the Orobanchaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 9 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Wyoming. NatureServe
- In Wyoming, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–July. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 581 research-grade sightings of it in Wyoming, ranking #42 among the 107 flowers on our Wyoming list. iNaturalist
Bracted lousewort gift ideas
Handmade bracted lousewort gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Bracted lousewort art print
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Bracted lousewort greeting card
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Bracted lousewort mug
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Bracted lousewort earrings
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Bracted lousewort embroidery pattern
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Bracted lousewort sticker
When does it bloom?
In Wyoming, most flowering sightings come in June–July.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Wyoming
- No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Wyoming.
- Rare elsewhere
- No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records bracted lousewort in 9 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.
Wyoming counties with USDA records: Albany, Carbon, Fremont, Lincoln, Park, Sublette, Teton.
More Wyoming flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile PEBR.
- iNaturalist, Pedicularis bracteosa: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Pedicularis bracteosa (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Wyoming: Wyoming state designated noxious weeds (W.S. 11-5-102(a)(xi)), as listed by the Wyoming Weed & Pest Council.
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Pedicularis bracteosa (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
- Photo: Dan Horowitz via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.