Lousewort is a herb whose pollen is accessible only to a small number of skilled insects due to the tightly coiled flower growth. This growth is such in order to prevent attacks from seed-eating caterpillars. Lousewort grows in moderately well drained areas such as wet meadows, gravel, moss or peat. It is sometimes the only brightly coloured flower to be seen in a sea of scrub in Siberia or other circumpolar areas.