Pedicularis canadensis, commonly called wood betony, is a perennial herb in the broomrape family (Orobanchaceae). It is native to eastern and central North America, including southeastern Canada, the eastern and central United States, and eastern Mexico. In Pennsylvania it grows in dry woodlands, open forests, prairies, thickets, and clearings. This species is hemiparasitic and forms haustorial (root‑attaching) connections to nearby plants. It commonly attaches to grasses and other herbaceous species, but it is capable of parasitizing both herbaceous and woody hosts while still producing its own chlorophyll.

Wood betony ranges from 6 to 12 inches tall and has a cluster of basal leaves that are typically up to 6 inches long and about 2 inches wide. These basal leaves form a rosette at ground level. The flowering stem rises from the center of the rosette and can be greenish to reddish brown, with a covering of long white hairs.

Along the stem, the stem leaves are alternate and pinnatifid, with rounded, scalloped lobes that give the foliage a softly fern‑like appearance; upper leaves are smaller and less deeply cut.

This species blooms from late April through May, producing flowers at the top of the flowering stems. The flowers are usually yellow, although some populations have brownish‑red forms. Each flower is about three‑quarters of an inch long and has a tubular, two‑lipped corolla. The upper lip forms a hood over the reproductive parts, and the lower lip provides a landing platform for visiting insects. The flowers have a light fragrance that attracts bees and other pollinators.

After fertilization, each flower is replaced by a capsule about one‑half inch long. The capsule is angular and is enclosed by a hairy, persistent calyx, which can give the fruit a fuzzy appearance. Inside the capsule are numerous small seeds. The plant often forms loose groups in suitable habitat, and these clusters develop over time through self‑seeding, since the species does not spread vegetatively.