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white beardtongue, white penstemon

little-flower penstemon, slender blue penstemon, small-flower beardtongue, small-flower penstemon

Habit Herbs.
Stems

ascending to erect, (10–)15–50(–55) cm, retrorsely hairy proximally, glandular-pubescent distally.

ascending to erect, 3–55(–70) cm, glabrous or ± retrorsely hairy, not glaucous.

Leaves

basal and cauline, not leathery, glabrate or puberulent to scabrous;

basal and proximal cauline petiolate, 20–85(–110) × (4–)7–18(–20) mm, blade oblanceolate or obovate to lanceolate, base tapered, margins entire to obscurely or distinctly serrate, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 2–5(or 6) pairs, sessile or proximals short-petiolate, 25–65 × (3–)7–19(–21) mm, blade ovate to lanceolate, base tapered to clasping, margins entire or serrate to dentate, apex acute.

basal and cauline, basal sometimes poorly developed, ± leathery or not, glabrous, puberulent, or retrorsely hairy;

basal and proximal cauline 9–90(–115) × 2–19 mm, blade spatulate to oblanceolate, lanceolate, or elliptic, base tapered, margins entire, apex rounded to obtuse or acute;

cauline 2–6 pairs, sessile or proximals sometimes short-petiolate, 6–85 × 1–17 mm, blade oblanceolate to spatulate, obovate, oblong, elliptic, lanceolate, or linear, base tapered to clasping, margins entire, apex rounded to obtuse or acute.

Thyrses

continuous or interrupted, cylindric, 4–24(–30) cm, axis densely glandular-pubescent, verticillasters (2 or)3–10, cymes 2–7-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, 17–65 × 3–17 mm;

peduncles and pedicels densely glandular-pubescent.

interrupted, cylindric, 0.5–23 cm, axis glabrous or retrorsely hairy, verticillasters 1–8(–11), cymes 3–11-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate to linear, 10–50(–60) × 1–8(–16) mm, margins entire;

peduncles and pedicels erect, glabrous, puberulent, or retrorsely hairy.

Flowers

calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 4–7 × 1.5–3 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla white, rarely tinged pink or lavender, with red or reddish purple nectar guides, funnelform, (12–)16–20 mm, glandular-pubescent internally, tube 4–6 mm, throat gradually inflated, not constricted at orifice, (4–)6–8 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, explanate, 0.7–1.1 mm, dehiscing completely, sutures smooth;

staminode 8–9 mm, included, 0.3–0.4 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, distal 3–6 mm sparsely to moderately villous, hairs yellowish, to 1 mm;

style 9–11(–13) mm.

calyx lobes ovate to obovate or lanceolate, 1.2–5(–5.5) × 0.5–2 mm, apex truncate, obtuse, acute, acuminate, cuspidate, caudate, or mucronate, glabrous or puberulent to retrorsely hairy;

corolla violet to blue or purple, with, sometimes without, reddish purple nectar guides, funnelform, 7–11 mm, glabrous externally, moderately white- or yellow-lanate internally abaxially, tube 2–3 mm, throat slightly inflated, 2–3 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, explanate, 0.3–0.6 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures smooth or papillate;

staminode 4–6 mm, included, 0.2–0.3 mm diam., tip straight to slightly recurved, distal 0.5–1 mm pilose, hairs yellow or golden yellow, to 0.6 mm, rarely glabrous;

style 4–7 mm.

Capsules

8–12 × 4–7 mm.

3–5 × 2–4 mm, glabrous.

2n

= 16.

Penstemon albidus

Penstemon procerus

Phenology Flowering Apr–Jul(–Sep).
Habitat Silty or gravelly soils, mixed-grass and shortgrass prairies.
Elevation 300–1800 m. (1000–5900 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CO; IA; KS; MN; MT; ND; NE; NM; OK; SD; TX; WY; AB; MB; ON; SK
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AK; CA; CO; ID; MT; ND; NV; OR; UT; WA; WY; AB; BC; MB; SK; YT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Penstemon albidus is remarkably uniform throughout its range. It probably is introduced in Ontario.

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

Varieties 6 (6 in the flora).

Penstemon procerus is a widespread, frequent, and highly variable species distributed throughout much of western North America. This variability has resulted in varied interpretations of its taxonomic units.

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

Key
1. Calyx lobes (2–)3–5(–5.5) mm, apices acuminate, cuspidate, or short- to long-caudate.
→ 2
2. Verticillasters (1–)3–8(–11); stems (6–)15–55(–70) cm; thyrses (1–)5–23 cm.
var. procerus
2. Verticillasters 1 or 2(–5); stems 3–20(–28) cm; thyrses 1–5(–13) cm.
var. tolmiei
1. Calyx lobes 1.2–3.2 mm, apices truncate to obtuse, acute, acuminate, mucronate, or short-caudate.
→ 3
3. Verticillasters 1 or 2(–5); stems 3–15(–20) cm; cauline leaves 1–4(–8) mm wide.
var. formosus
3. Verticillasters (1 or)2–6; stems (4–)8–35(–42) cm; cauline leaves 2–13 mm wide.
→ 4
4. Calyx lobes 1.2–2.4 mm, apices truncate to obtuse or mucronate, rarely short-caudate or acute; Nevada.
var. modestus
4. Calyx lobes (1.4–)1.8–3.2 mm, apices acute to acuminate or short-caudate; California, Oregon, Utah.
→ 5
5. Pollen sacs 0.3–0.4 mm; corollas 7–10 mm; stems 10–35(–42) cm; Utah.
var. aberrans
5. Pollen sacs 0.4–0.6 mm; corollas 9–12 mm; stems 9–20(–30) cm; California, Oregon.
var. brachyanthus
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 128. FNA vol. 17, p. 216.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Cristati Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Penstemon
Sibling taxa
P. abietinus, P. absarokensis, P. acaulis, P. acuminatus, P. alamosensis, P. albertinus, 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. 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. 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. procerus var. aberrans, P. procerus var. brachyanthus, P. procerus var. formosus, P. procerus var. modestus, P. procerus var. procerus, P. procerus var. tolmiei
Synonyms P. confertus var. procerus
Name authority Nuttall: Gen. N. Amer. Pl. 2: 53. (1818) — (as Pentstemon albidum) Douglas ex Graham: Edinburgh New Philos. J. 7: 348. (1829) — (as Pentstemon procerum)
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