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Alberta beardtongue, Alberta penstemon

dusty beardtongue, dusty penstemon

Habit Herbs.
Stems

ascending to erect, (10–)15–38 cm, glabrous or sparsely retrorsely hairy, sometimes also sparsely glandular-pubescent.

ascending to erect, (18–)40–80(–120) cm, glabrous, sometimes retrorsely hairy proximally, not glaucous.

Leaves

basal and cauline, ± leathery or not, glabrous, sometimes sparsely retrorsely hairy along midvein abaxially, not glaucous;

basal and proximal cauline (13–)40–90 × (3–)6–18 mm, blade ovate to oblanceolate or lanceolate, base tapered, margins ± serrate or dentate, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 2–6 pairs, short-petiolate or sessile, 15–55 × 3–10 mm, blade lanceolate, proximals sometimes oblanceolate to oblong, base tapered or truncate, margins entire or ± serrate to ± dentate, apex obtuse to acute.

basal and cauline, ± leathery or not, glabrous or sparsely retrorsely hairy, rarely densely retrorsely hairy, not glaucous;

basal and proximal cauline 40–80(–120) × 7–20(–30) mm, blade obovate to oblanceolate, base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 5–7(or 8) pairs, sessile, 38–110 × 1–10 mm, blade oblanceolate to linear, base tapered, apex obtuse to acute.

Thyrses

continuous or ± interrupted, cylindric, 4–19 cm, axis glabrous or ± glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 4–8, cymes (1 or)2–6-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, 9–40 × 3–15 mm, margins entire or ± serrate to dentate;

peduncles and pedicels erect, sometimes ascending, glandular-pubescent.

erupted, secund, sometimes subsecund, (12–)15–32 cm, axis glabrous, verticillasters 6–12, cymes 1–2(–5)-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts linear, (6–)26–84 × 1–4 mm;

peduncles and pedicels glabrous.

Flowers

calyx lobes ovate, 2.8–4.8 × 0.9–1.8 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla blue to light blue or violet, with reddish purple nectar guides, funnelform, 13–20 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, sparsely white-villous internally abaxially, tube 4–5 mm, throat gradually inflated, 4–5 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, subexplanate to explanate, 0.5–0.8 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures smooth or papillate;

staminode 8–9 mm, included, 0.2–0.3 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, distal 0.5–2 mm ± pilose, hairs golden yellow, to 0.8 mm;

style 9–11 mm.

calyx lobes ovate, (2.2–)3.5–6(–7) × 2.1–2.7 mm, glabrous;

corolla blue to pinkish blue or lavender, with violet nectar guides, ventricose, 25–35(–38) mm, glabrous externally, glabrous internally, tube 8–11(–14) mm, throat abruptly inflated, slightly constricted at orifice, 9–13 mm diam., slightly 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens: longer pair exserted, pollen sacs divergent to nearly opposite, navicular-sigmoid, 2–2.5(–2.8) mm, dehiscing incompletely, proximal 1/5 indehiscent, connective not splitting, sides densely villous or lanate, hairs white, to 2.5 mm, sutures smooth, papillate, or denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm;

staminode 12–17 mm, included, 0.8–1 mm diam., tip straight, glabrous or distal 1–2 mm sparsely pilose, hairs white, to 0.5 mm;

style 16–25 mm.

Capsules

4–6 × 3–4 mm, glabrous.

(7–)10–15 × 4–5 mm.

2n

= 16.

Penstemon albertinus

Penstemon comarrhenus

Phenology Flowering May–Aug. Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat Gravelly slopes, cliffs, rocky clearings, roadcuts in coniferous forests. Pinyon-juniper, Gambel oak, and ponderosa pine woodlands.
Elevation 800–2800 m. (2600–9200 ft.) (1000–)1600–2800 m. ((3300–)5200–9200 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
ID; MT; AB; BC
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AZ; CO; NM; NV; UT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Penstemon caelestinus has been treated as a synonym of P. albertinus (D. D. Keck 1945; A. Cronquist 1959). D. V. Clark (1971) grew these and related species in transplant gardens and considered P. caelestinus to be distinct based on flower color, leaf shape and color, phenology, and habitat. A broad zone of hybridization between P. albertinus and P. wilcoxii exists in east-central Idaho and western Montana, especially in habitats disturbed by humans (Clark).

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

Penstemon comarrhenus usually is distinguished from P. strictus by its paler blue corollas, more diffuse inflorescences, and more densely lanate anthers. A putative hybrid between P. comarrhenus and P. barbatus var. trichander has been collected in La Plata County, Colorado (R. E. Umber, B. E. Nelson & T. Davis 999b, KANU, RM).

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

Source FNA vol. 17, p. 190. FNA vol. 17, p. 162.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Penstemon Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Glabri
Sibling taxa
P. abietinus, P. absarokensis, P. acaulis, P. acuminatus, P. alamosensis, 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. 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
Synonyms P. caelestinus
Name authority Greene: Leafl. Bot. Observ. Crit. 1: 167. (1906) — (as Pentstemon) A. Gray: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 12: 81. (1876) — (as Pentstemon)
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