Lousewort Anatomy

Day 305: The Louseworts are in their best bloom at various times over the summer, but it's rare to find examples of every species during a single hike because they don't all flower at once. On July 29, I posted a photo of Bracted Lousewort (Pedicularis bracteosa). Today, I bring you two more: Sickle-top Lousewort (P. racemosa, left) and Bird's-beak Pedicularis (P. ornithorhyncha, right). As you can see, there is quite a bit of variation in the shape of the corolla. Pedicularis is characterized by having a double-lipped flower. The upper lip forms a hood-like structure called a galea, and it is this feature which supplies many of the common names by which these plants are known. Sickle-top is obvious: its galea is the "curl in the middle of its forehead." Bird's-beak has a pointy nose. Coiled-beak is similar to Sickle-top, but its "beak" makes a tighter coil and its inflorescence is more densely packed, and favourite of all, Elephant-head has a long and unmistakable elephant's trunk. The unique shapes of these blossoms serve a purpose: they restrict access to the plants' reproductive parts to specific insects. Upon discovering such an exclusive restaurant, the insects seek out similar plants where they can dine at their leisure without being chased off by other insect species.

Lichen Architecture

Day 150: I've mentioned previously that lichens are particularly equipped to conserve moisture whether it's rain, dew or simply humidity, and no species typifies the amazing biological architecture of a water-retention system better than that of abundantly squamous Cladonia bellidiflora. The pale greyish-green squamules (scaly flakes) on the podetia (stalks) allow this Cladonia to make use of whatever moisture comes its way, even when the lichen is growing on a vertical plane such as the side of a downed log. We speak of animal and bird species as being "specialized," but lichens are one of the best examples of specialization in nature.