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| Pedicularis densiflora |
| Family: Orobanchaceae (Broomrape) |
| Flowers — color: red, size: 1" long, type: lipped |
Indian Warrior's red flowers project outwards between reddish leaves, about one inch long. The upper lip is a hood over the sexual parts. A lower lip with three lobes closes the bottom of the flower.
Habit:
To me, this is the Christmas plant. It has the conical form of a pine tree, broad base and narrow top. The new leaves forming at the top have a strong red pigment that fades, leaving lower leaves as green, heightening the holiday effect. As a bonus, flowers emerge during the holidays, producing ornaments.
Indian Warrior is a perennial herb growing from a rhizome—horizontal root. In the shade, the lower leaves of Indian Warrior form an alternating rosette around the main stem that may rise to 24 inches. They are multiply pinnate—separated into sidelobes that are themselves deeply notched. The upper leaves become simpler.
Indian Warrior has a different habit in sunnier locations. Large leaves form a basal rosette and a short red conical flowering section emerges.
The roots may parasitize neighboring oaks and/or manzanitas, collecting nutrients from their roots. Some specimens seem very small, perhaps they have not found a host.
Their population seems to vary each season. I found a large colony—15 yards wide and deep—containing hundreds of Indian Warriors (see photo). They grew in clumps of six to ten plants above the leaf litter. Several rainy seasons later I could not seem to find the spot. Grasses and annuals filled the clearing, and just a few Warriors grew along the exposed sides of the trail. After several drier seasons, I found the grass reduced to a few clumps and the Indian Warrior returned, but more as individuals than clumps. Many different boom–bust cycles must be playing in BMER.
Observations:
Full sun to full shade, the densest population occurs in the woodlands around Hidden Lake.