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| Elephanthead; Uintas, 07/07/2018, David Kenison |
Also known as Lousewort, Bull Elephant's Head. From the Scrophulariaceae (Figwort) family.
Many people walk by the Elephanthead flowers and never stop to examine them closely, and thus never discover the fantastic intricacy of the blossom. The individual half-inch flowers that cluster around the vertical stem bear a remarkable resemblance to an elephant. The upper petals curl into a long, curved snout with petals that form into a face and protruding ears.
The flowers appear early in the spring in very moist soils at moderate to high elevations. Fern-like leaves support a spike that can reach over 12" and bear scores of purple and pink flowers.
The unusual structure of the flower facilitates pollination while at the same time reducing the chances of hybridization with other species; release of the pollen depends on the vibration of approaching bees' wings.
These photos were taken by the author at a variety of locations around Utah. Click to view enlargements.
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