BY LESLIE REGO
Some wildflowers have the most fanciful of names and elephant’s head (Pedicularis groenlandica) falls right into that category. There is a patch of this flower growing by the path leading to the other side of Titus Lake. The plants like to congregate there under the bushes, seeking shade, but still in the wet boggy sections. So, I teasingly said to my husband, “Let’s go and hunt for elephants’ heads today!” He swiveled his body toward me with a look of total disbelief on his face. “No, really,” I continued, “there are some by Titus Lake. Let’s hike there and look for some.” Game for anything, he agreed.
Arriving at the lake, we walked around to the other side where I pointed out the hot-pink elephants’ heads to my husband. The miniature flowers, clustered around the upper portion of a thick stem, were complete with elephant-like trunks (the upper hooded petals with a long projection) and large elephant-like ears (the lower lip petals). There were quite a few of these sturdy stems scattered in the wet meadow.
The plant is a curious mixture between dainty (the small size of the flower heads) and stalwart (the sturdy stem). I have seen many plants composed of this mixed message: a large bloom perched precariously on a slender stem or a tiny bloom on top of a thick, unbending stem. I find these contrasts curious and wonder why Nature plays with these seemingly unnatural combinations.
Looking once more at these bright pink flowers, my husband and I both agreed that hunting elephant’s head – in floral form – made for a really spectacular day, complete with a nice hike, beautiful view of a lake and picnic lunch.
Leslie Rego is an Idaho Press Club award-winning columnist, artist and Blaine County resident. To view more of Rego’s art, visit www.leslierego.com.