fern-leaved false foxglove

Aureolaria pedicularia is a member of the genus Aureolaria. This plant has an average height of 1 foot to 4 feet, depending on the season. Aureolaria pedicularia is a root hemiparasite, meaning it attaches to the roots of its hosts. Aureolaria pedicularia selectively parasitizes oaks (Quercus). Aureolaria pedicularia gets its nutrients from oak (Fagaceae). The part of the roots from the parasite (Aureolaria pedicularia) that take the nutrients from the oak selectively parasitize the favored hosts (oak).

Morphology. Aureolaria pedicularia has flowers with yellow petals. The leaves are simple, meaning they do not separate into leaflets. The leaf arrangement is opposite. There are two leaves at each attachment of a leaf on the stem or branch of the flower. The edges of the leaf blades have lobes. The flowers of Aureolaria pedicularia are bilateral. Each flower has five fused petals that form a tube. Aureolaria pedicularia also has four stamens. The fruit type for this flower is dry and splits open when it is ripe. The fruit type is a capsule. The fruit size is about 10–13 mm in length.

Habitats for Aureolaria pedicularia include terrestrial locations such as cliffs, balds, ledges, forests, grasslands, ridges, rocky slopes, and woodlands. This plant lives in partly shady areas to sunny areas. The typical soil for this plant is dry and sandy. Aureolaria pedicularia is most commonly found in open oak woods and savannas. The bloom season is from May to October. The overall US distribution for Aureolaria pedicularia is throughout most of eastern North America, the Great Lakes states and parts of the Midwest

Aureolaria pedicularia was used by the Cherokee as a drug for antidiarrheal purposes. Aureolaria pedicularia is also commonly used by deer as a food plant.

Rafinesque published Pantenis pedicularis (or Aureolaria) and based it on Gerardia pedicularia L. (1753). Rafinesque did not officially establish the binomial name Aureolaria pedicularia, but he did use it as an alternative for the taxon Pantenis pedicularis.