Pedicularis resupinata

Lousewort, Song-i-p'ul

OrobanchaceaeLeaves

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What to Eat

Edible parts: Leaves

Young leaves are edible when cooked.

Where to Find It

It is a temperate plant.

Asia, Central Asia, China, Europe, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Mongolia, Russia,

Countries: Andorra, United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bahrain, Brunei, Bhutan, Belarus, Switzerland, China, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Georgia, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Iceland, Italy, Jordan, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Sri Lanka, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Monaco, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Malta, Maldives, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Nepal, Oman, Philippines, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Serbia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Singapore, Slovenia, Slovakia, San Marino, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Taiwan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

How to Identify

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 30-70 cm tall. The stems branch at the top. There are many leaves on the stems. The ones near the top may not have leaf stalks. The leaves are oval and 3-6 cm long by 1-2 cm wide.

How to Grow

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will succeed in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in most parts of the country. Apparently the plant smells like horse excrement. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. A semi-parasitic plant, growing on grass roots. Rather difficult to establish in cultivation, it is best grown in conditions that approximate to its native habitat. It requires a moist peaty soil and the presence of host grasses. Requires a partially shaded to sunny site in a well-drained gritty but moist soil.

Propagation: Sow seed in pots of turf collected from near wild colonies, or sow directly onto the site where plants are to remain. Division of established plants may be possible in spring; establish divisions close to the parent plants.

Medicinal Uses

The plant is antirheumatic, diuretic, and febrifuge. It is used to treat fevers, leucorrhoea, rheumatism, sterility, and urinary difficulties. A decoction of the plant can be used to wash foul ulcers.

Other Uses

None known.

Wikipedia

A perennial reaching 1 meter tall with hermaphroditic flowers, suitable for light to medium well-drained soils across neutral to alkaline pH ranges. It grows in semi-shaded woodland or full sun conditions and prefers consistently moist soil.

Notes

Also put in the family Scrophulariaceae.

References (5)

Pemberton, R. W. & Lee, N. S., 1996, Wild Food Plants in South Korea: Market Presence, New Crops, and Exports to the United States. Economic Botany, Vol. 50, No. 1, pp. 57-70
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Sp. pl. 2:608. 1753
Urgamal, M., Oyuntsetseg, B., Nyambayar, D. & Dulamsuren, Ch. 2014. Conspectus of the vascular plants of Mongolia. (Editors: Sanchir, Ch. & Jamsran, Ts.). Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. “Admon“ Press. 334pp. (p. 79-90).
Wujisguleng, W., & Khasbagen. K., 2010, An integrated assessment of wild vegetable resources in Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, China. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 6:34