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sand dune penstemon, sand-dune beardtongue, sharp-leaf penstemon

Berry's penstemon, mountain pride, Newberry's beardtongue

Habit Subshrubs, cespitose.
Stems

ascending to erect, (9–)20–60 cm, glabrous or ± scabrous, especially distally.

ascending to erect, (5–)10–32 cm, glabrous or retrorsely hairy, not glaucous.

Leaves

basal and cauline, glabrous, sometimes scabrous;

basal and proximal cauline (14–)30–95 × 4–15(–24) mm, blade oblanceolate to elliptic, base tapered, apex obtuse to acute or mucronate;

cauline (2 or)3–6(or 7) pairs, sessile, 18–60(–85) × (4–)8–28 mm, blade ovate to lanceolate, base tapered to cordate-clasping, apex acute to acuminate.

persistent, 4–9 pairs, distals distinctly to slightly smaller than proximals, short-petiolate or sessile, (5–)9–42 × 4–14(–18) mm, blade elliptic to obovate, base tapered, cuneate, or cordate-clasping, margins ± serrulate or serrulate-denticulate to serrate, apex rounded to obtuse or acute, glabrous, glaucous.

Thyrses

continuous or interrupted, cylindric, 6–25(–30) cm, axis glabrous, rarely scabrous or glutinous, verticillasters (5–)7–15, cymes (2–)4–8(–12)-flowered;

proximal bracts ovate to lanceolate, 14–60 × 9–30 mm, margins entire, apex obtuse to acuminate or caudate;

peduncles and pedicels glabrous or scabrous, sometimes also glutinous, peduncles to 4 mm.

continuous, ± secund, 2–20 cm, axis glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 4–12, cymes 1-flowered;

proximal bracts ovate to lanceolate, 4–11(–20) × 2–8(–15) mm;

peduncles and pedicels ascending, glandular-pubescent.

Flowers

calyx lobes lanceolate, (3.2–)4.5–10 × 1.2–3.2(–3.8) mm, margins entire or erose, herbaceous or narrowly scarious, glabrous or scabrous proximally and, sometimes, along margins, sometimes also glutinous;

corolla blue to violet or purple, with reddish purple nectar guides, tubular-funnelform, 11–20 mm, glabrous externally, glabrous internally, tube 5–9 mm, throat gradually inflated, 4–6 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens included or longer pair reaching orifice to slightly exserted, pollen sacs opposite, navicular, 0.7–1.3(–1.5) mm, sutures papillate;

staminode 6–12 mm, reaching orifice, 0.6–1 mm diam., tip recurved, distal 1.5–3.5 mm densely pilose, hairs golden yellow, to 0.6 mm, hairs on proximal part of staminode mostly along margins;

style 8–15 mm.

calyx lobes lanceolate, 6–10 × 2–2.5 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla pink, red, scarlet, lavender, or purple, essentially unlined internally but abaxial ridges sometimes pink to whitish, not personate, funnelform, 22–35 mm, glabrous externally, moderately to densely white-lanate internally abaxially, tube 6–9 mm, throat 5–12 mm diam.;

stamens included or longer pair exserted, pollen sacs 0.8–1.7 mm;

staminode 8–14 mm, slightly flattened distally, 0.1–0.3 mm diam., tip straight, distal 2–8 mm pubescent to lanate, hairs white or yellowish, to 1 mm;

style 20–24 mm.

Capsules

7–13 × 4–7 mm.

(8–)10–13 × (4–)5–8 mm.

Penstemon acuminatus

Penstemon newberryi

Distribution
from FNA
ID; NV; OR; WA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA; NV; OR
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Penstemon acuminatus includes the northern var. acuminatus, which has denser thyrses than the southern var. latebracteatus. Herbage of var. acuminatus is usually scabrous; herbage of var. latebracteatus is rarely scabrous.

The Blackfoot tribe of the Central Rocky Mountains use Penstemon acuminatus as an analgesic, antiemetic, and gastrointestinal aid (D. E. Moerman 1998).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

Penstemon newberryi is known from the Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges of California, Nevada, and Oregon.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Key
1. Styles 11–15 mm; corollas 14–20 mm; pollen sacs 0.8–1.3(–1.5) mm; calyx lobes 5–10 mm.
var. acuminatus
1. Styles 8–11 mm; corollas 11–15 mm; pollen sacs 0.7–1 mm; calyx lobes (3.2–)4.5–7 mm.
var. latebracteatus
1. Corollas pink to lavender or purple, 27–35 mm; stamens included, pollen sacs 1.2–1.7 mm.
var. berryi
1. Corollas red, scarlet, or purple, 22–30 mm; stamens: longer pair exserted, pollen sacs 0.8–1.3 mm.
→ 2
2. Corollas red to scarlet; distal leaves distinctly smaller than proximals.
var. newberryi
2. Corollas purple; distal leaves slightly smaller than proximals.
var. sonomensis
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 113. FNA vol. 17, p. 90.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Coerulei Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Dasanthera > sect. Erianthera
Sibling taxa
P. abietinus, P. absarokensis, P. acaulis, P. alamosensis, P. albertinus, P. albidus, P. albomarginatus, P. ambiguus, P. ammophilus, P. anguineus, P. angustifolius, P. arenarius, P. arenicola, P. aridus, P. arkansanus, P. attenuatus, P. atwoodii, P. auriberbis, P. australis, P. azureus, P. baccharifolius, P. barbatus, P. barnebyi, P. barrettiae, P. bicolor, P. bleaklyi, P. bracteatus, P. breviculus, P. brevisepalus, P. buckleyi, P. caesius, P. caespitosus, P. calcareus, P. californicus, P. calycosus, P. canescens, P. cardinalis, P. cardwellii, P. carnosus, P. caryi, P. centranthifolius, P. cinicola, P. clevelandii, P. clutei, P. cobaea, P. comarrhenus, P. compactus, P. concinnus, P. confertus, P. confusus, P. crandallii, P. cusickii, P. cyananthus, P. cyaneus, P. cyanocaulis, P. cyathophorus, P. dasyphyllus, P. davidsonii, P. deamii, P. deaveri, P. debilis, P. degeneri, P. deustus, P. digitalis, P. diphyllus, P. discolor, P. dissectus, P. distans, P. dolius, P. duchesnensis, P. eatonii, P. elegantulus, P. ellipticus, P. eriantherus, P. euglaucus, P. fendleri, P. filiformis, P. flavescens, P. floribundus, P. floridus, P. flowersii, P. franklinii, P. fremontii, P. fruticiformis, P. fruticosus, P. gairdneri, P. gibbensii, P. glaber, P. glandulosus, P. glaucinus, P. globosus, P. goodrichii, P. gormanii, P. gracilentus, P. gracilis, P. grahamii, P. grandiflorus, P. griffinii, P. grinnellii, P. guadalupensis, P. hallii, P. harbourii, P. harringtonii, P. havardii, P. haydenii, P. heterodoxus, P. heterophyllus, P. hirsutus, P. humilis, P. idahoensis, P. immanifestus, P. incertus, P. inflatus, P. jamesii, P. janishiae, P. kingii, P. kralii, P. labrosus, P. laetus, P. laevigatus, P. laevis, P. lanceolatus, P. laricifolius, P. laxiflorus, P. laxus, P. leiophyllus, P. lemhiensis, P. lentus, P. leonardii, P. linarioides, P. longiflorus, P. lyallii, P. marcusii, P. mensarum, P. metcalfei, P. miser, P. moffatii, P. monoensis, P. montanus, P. moriahensis, P. mucronatus, P. multiflorus, P. murrayanus, P. nanus, P. navajoa, P. neomexicanus, P. neotericus, P. newberryi, P. nitidus, P. nudiflorus, P. oklahomensis, P. oliganthus, P. ophianthus, P. osterhoutii, P. ovatus, P. pachyphyllus, P. pahutensis, P. pallidus, P. palmeri, P. papillatus, P. parryi, P. parvulus, P. parvus, P. patens, P. payettensis, P. paysoniorum, P. peckii, P. penlandii, P. pennellianus, P. perpulcher, P. personatus, P. petiolatus, P. pinifolius, P. pinorum, P. platyphyllus, P. pratensis, P. procerus, P. pruinosus, P. pseudoputus, P. pseudospectabilis, P. pudicus, P. pumilus, P. purpusii, P. putus, P. radicosus, P. rattanii, P. retrorsus, P. rhizomatosus, P. richardsonii, P. roezlii, P. rostriflorus, P. rubicundus, P. rupicola, P. rydbergii, P. saxosorum, P. scapoides, P. scariosus, P. secundiflorus, P. seorsus, P. sepalulus, P. serrulatus, P. smallii, P. spatulatus, P. speciosus, P. spectabilis, P. stenophyllus, P. stephensii, P. strictiformis, P. strictus, P. subglaber, P. subserratus, P. subulatus, P. sudans, P. superbus, P. tenuiflorus, P. tenuis, P. teucrioides, P. thompsoniae, P. thurberi, P. tidestromii, P. tiehmii, P. tracyi, P. triflorus, P. triphyllus, P. tubaeflorus, P. uintahensis, P. utahensis, P. venustus, P. virens, P. virgatus, P. wardii, P. washingtonensis, P. watsonii, P. whippleanus, P. wilcoxii, P. wrightii, P. xylus, P. yampaënsis
P. abietinus, P. absarokensis, P. acaulis, P. acuminatus, P. alamosensis, P. albertinus, P. albidus, P. albomarginatus, P. ambiguus, P. ammophilus, P. anguineus, P. angustifolius, P. arenarius, P. arenicola, P. aridus, P. arkansanus, P. attenuatus, P. atwoodii, P. auriberbis, P. australis, P. azureus, P. baccharifolius, P. barbatus, P. barnebyi, P. barrettiae, P. bicolor, P. bleaklyi, P. bracteatus, P. breviculus, P. brevisepalus, P. buckleyi, P. caesius, P. caespitosus, P. calcareus, P. californicus, P. calycosus, P. canescens, P. cardinalis, P. cardwellii, P. carnosus, P. caryi, P. centranthifolius, P. cinicola, P. clevelandii, P. clutei, P. cobaea, P. comarrhenus, P. compactus, P. concinnus, P. confertus, P. confusus, P. crandallii, P. cusickii, P. cyananthus, P. cyaneus, P. cyanocaulis, P. cyathophorus, P. dasyphyllus, P. davidsonii, P. deamii, P. deaveri, P. debilis, P. degeneri, P. deustus, P. digitalis, P. diphyllus, P. discolor, P. dissectus, P. distans, P. dolius, P. duchesnensis, P. eatonii, P. elegantulus, P. ellipticus, P. eriantherus, P. euglaucus, P. fendleri, P. filiformis, P. flavescens, P. floribundus, P. floridus, P. flowersii, P. franklinii, P. fremontii, P. fruticiformis, P. fruticosus, P. gairdneri, P. gibbensii, P. glaber, P. glandulosus, P. glaucinus, P. globosus, P. goodrichii, P. gormanii, P. gracilentus, P. gracilis, P. grahamii, P. grandiflorus, P. griffinii, P. grinnellii, P. guadalupensis, P. hallii, P. harbourii, P. harringtonii, P. havardii, P. haydenii, P. heterodoxus, P. heterophyllus, P. hirsutus, P. humilis, P. idahoensis, P. immanifestus, P. incertus, P. inflatus, P. jamesii, P. janishiae, P. kingii, P. kralii, P. labrosus, P. laetus, P. laevigatus, P. laevis, P. lanceolatus, P. laricifolius, P. laxiflorus, P. laxus, P. leiophyllus, P. lemhiensis, P. lentus, P. leonardii, P. linarioides, P. longiflorus, P. lyallii, P. marcusii, P. mensarum, P. metcalfei, P. miser, P. moffatii, P. monoensis, P. montanus, P. moriahensis, P. mucronatus, P. multiflorus, P. murrayanus, P. nanus, P. navajoa, P. neomexicanus, P. neotericus, P. nitidus, P. nudiflorus, P. oklahomensis, P. oliganthus, P. ophianthus, P. osterhoutii, P. ovatus, P. pachyphyllus, P. pahutensis, P. pallidus, P. palmeri, P. papillatus, P. parryi, P. parvulus, P. parvus, P. patens, P. payettensis, P. paysoniorum, P. peckii, P. penlandii, P. pennellianus, P. perpulcher, P. personatus, P. petiolatus, P. pinifolius, P. pinorum, P. platyphyllus, P. pratensis, P. procerus, P. pruinosus, P. pseudoputus, P. pseudospectabilis, P. pudicus, P. pumilus, P. purpusii, P. putus, P. radicosus, P. rattanii, P. retrorsus, P. rhizomatosus, P. richardsonii, P. roezlii, P. rostriflorus, P. rubicundus, P. rupicola, P. rydbergii, P. saxosorum, P. scapoides, P. scariosus, P. secundiflorus, P. seorsus, P. sepalulus, P. serrulatus, P. smallii, P. spatulatus, P. speciosus, P. spectabilis, P. stenophyllus, P. stephensii, P. strictiformis, P. strictus, P. subglaber, P. subserratus, P. subulatus, P. sudans, P. superbus, P. tenuiflorus, P. tenuis, P. teucrioides, P. thompsoniae, P. thurberi, P. tidestromii, P. tiehmii, P. tracyi, P. triflorus, P. triphyllus, P. tubaeflorus, P. uintahensis, P. utahensis, P. venustus, P. virens, P. virgatus, P. wardii, P. washingtonensis, P. watsonii, P. whippleanus, P. wilcoxii, P. wrightii, P. xylus, P. yampaënsis
Subordinate taxa
P. acuminatus var. acuminatus, P. acuminatus var. latebracteatus
P. newberryi var. berryi, P. newberryi var. newberryi, P. newberryi var. sonomensis
Name authority Douglas ex Lindley: Edwards’s Bot. Reg. 15: plate 1285. (1829) — (as Pentstemon acuminatum) A. Gray: in War Department [U.S.], Pacif. Railr. Rep. 6(3): 82, plate 14. (1858) — (as Pentstemon)
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