Pink Elephants

Day 280: Backcountry wisdom says that it's perfectly normal to talk to yourself when you're out in the woods. You should only be worried when you find yourself answering back. As far as I know, there's been no mention in the history of hiking covering the occasional visions of pink elephants after prolonged exposure to alpine meadows, but I can personally vouch for the phenomenon. In fact, after 174 visitor contacts at Reflection Lake, I deliberately sought them out in an effort to regain some semblance of sanity.

Pedicularis groenlandica (Elephant-head Pedicularis/Lousewort) doesn't seem to be as common as it once was in the subalpine meadows of Mount Rainier National Park. I used to find it at trailside quite frequently. Now I must actively seek it out where it occurs in pockets off-trail. Even when it's not in bloom, its lacy purplish foliage commands notice, highlights of colour in green meadow. The flower structure demands a very specialized method of pollinization, and is performed by an unexpected agent. As bumblebees progress from flower to flower, the vibration of their wings causes pollen to fall from the hidden anthers and thence to receptive stigmae. It is thought that this specialization helps prevent P. groenlandica's hybridization with other Louseworts.