Taxon Report

Pedicularis centranthera Gray

Great Basin lousewort

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Pedicularis centranthera, commonly known as Great Basin lousewort, is a perennial herb in the Orobanchaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Great Basin scrub, growing at elevations from 1300 to 1500 meters. Pedicularis centranthera is ranked 2B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Pedicularis centranthera Gray
Common Name:	Great Basin lousewort
Family:	Orobanchaceae
Element Code:	PDSCR1K070
USDA Plants Symbol:	PECE
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial herb
Blooming Period: Apr-Jun	Apr-Jun
Elevation:	1300-1500 (4265-4920)
General Habitats:	Great Basin scrub
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.3
Global Rank:	G5
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	BLM_S
CRPR Changes:	changed from 2.3 to 2B.3 on 2013-06-12

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	9
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	4
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	5

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Lassen (LAS)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Five Springs (4012052), Karlo (4012053)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	3
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	5	56 %
Other	4	44%
Development	1	11%
Grazing	1	11%

Notes



Known in CA from fewer than ten occurrences. Possibly threatened by agricultural development. On review list in OR. See Report on the U.S. and Mexican Boundary Survey, p. 120 (1859) by W. Emory for original description.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 18 November 2025].