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Colorado beardtongue

crested beardtongue, crested-tongue beardtongue, crested-tongue penstemon, fuzzy-tongue penstemon

Stems

ascending to erect, 10–30(–35) cm, retrorsely hairy proximally, glandular-pubescent distally.

ascending to erect, (2–)6–60 cm, retrorsely hairy, sometimes also villous or glandular-villous, or glabrate.

Leaves

basal and cauline, not leathery, glabrous, puberulent, or retrorsely hairy;

basal and proximal cauline petiolate, (15–)30–60(–100) × (1–)2–5(–7) mm, blade lanceolate to linear, base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 2–6 pairs, sessile, (25–)40–80 × 2–7 mm, blade lanceolate to linear, base tapered to slightly clasping, margins entire or obscurely denticulate, apex acute to acuminate.

basal and cauline, not leathery, glabrous or glabrate to retrorsely hairy and, sometimes, sparsely villous abaxially, glabrous or glabrate to retrorsely hairy and, sometimes, villous or glandular-villous adaxially;

basal and proximal cauline petiolate, (14–)22–130(–180) × 3–30(–40) mm, blade spatulate to obovate, oblanceolate, elliptic, or linear, base tapered, margins entire or ± dentate to serrate, apex rounded to obtuse or acute;

cauline 2–6 pairs, sessile or proximals short-petiolate, 18–90 × 3–20(–25) mm, blade oblanceolate to oblong, lanceolate, or linear, base tapered to clasping or cordate-clasping, margins entire or ± dentate to serrate, apex obtuse to acute.

Thyrses

continuous or interrupted, cylindric or slightly secund, (5–)7–23 cm, axis glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 3–8, cymes 2–4-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate to linear, 18–100 × 2–12 mm;

peduncles and pedicels glandular-pubescent.

continuous or interrupted, cylindric, (1–)2–20(–27) cm, axis glandular-pubescent to glandular-villous, sometimes also retrorsely hairy, verticillasters 2–7(–9), cymes (1 or)2–6-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts oblanceolate to oblong or lanceolate, 12–75 × 2–23 mm;

peduncles and pedicels glandular-villous or glandular-pubescent and, sometimes, also retrorsely hairy.

Flowers

calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, (6–)7–9 × 1–2 mm, densely glandular-pubescent;

corolla violet to lilac or pinkish blue, with magenta or violet nectar guides, weakly bilabiate, tubular-funnelform, (16–)18–22(–24) mm, moderately white-pilose internally abaxially, tube 4–6 mm, throat gradually inflated, not constricted at orifice, 7–9 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs divergent, navicular, 1.2–1.5 mm, dehiscing incompletely, connective not splitting, sutures papillate;

staminode 13–16 mm, reaching orifice or exserted, 0.6–0.9 mm diam., tip recurved, distal 10–15 mm moderately to densely villous, hairs orangish, to 2.5 mm;

style 11–14 mm.

calyx lobes lanceolate, 5.5–13 × 1.4–3 mm, glandular-pubescent to glandular-villous;

corolla lavender to violet, purple, pink, or blue, with reddish purple nectar guides, funnelform or ventricose-ampliate, 16–35(–42) mm, sparsely to densely white- or yellow-villous internally abaxially, sometimes glandular-pubescent laterally, tube 4–9 mm, throat gradually to abruptly inflated, constricted or not at orifice, 6–14 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs widely divergent to opposite, navicular to subexplanate or explanate, 0.8–1.9 mm, dehiscing completely, sutures smooth or papillate;

staminode 12–18 mm, exserted or prominently exserted, 0.3–0.9 mm diam., tip recurved, distal 6–15 mm sparsely to densely lanate, hairs yellow, yellowish, or orangish, to 4 mm, and medial hairs shorter, stiffer, and retrorse;

style 9–20 mm, glabrous or proximal 1–10 mm sparsely glandular-pubescent.

Capsules

(6–)8–10 × 3–4 mm.

6–13 × 4–6 mm, sparsely glandular-pubescent distally.

2n

= 16.

Penstemon auriberbis

Penstemon eriantherus

Phenology Flowering May–Aug.
Habitat Silty or gravelly soils, shortgrass prairies, sagebrush shrublands.
Elevation 1200–2500 m. (3900–8200 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CO; NM
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CO; ID; MT; ND; NE; OR; SD; UT; WA; WY; AB; BC
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Penstemon auriberbis is known from Chaffee, Costilla, Custer, El Paso, Elbert, Fremont, Huerfano, Kiowa, Las Animas, Otero, and Pueblo counties, Colorado, and Colfax and Union counties, New Mexico. The species is unique in sect. Cristati in having incompletely dehiscing anthers.

Penstemon parviflorus is known only from the type locality in Montezuma County, Colorado (S. L. O’Kane 1988). A report for McKinley County, New Mexico, has not been confirmed. The type was collected July 1890 by Alice Eastwood, reputedly near Mancos, Colorado. F. W. Pennell (1920b) distinguished P. parviflorus from the more eastern P. auriberbis primarily by the former’s shorter corollas, longer calyx lobes, and more slender stems. D. D. Keck (1938) observed that the type specimen has whorled cauline leaves, which Pennell did not mention in his description, and Keck suggested that P. parviflorus might be a genetically aberrant individual of P. auriberbis that was accidentally introduced into Montezuma County. Whorled cauline leaves are not uncommon in P. auriberbis, and they occur rarely in other species in sect. Cristati. Penstemon parviflorus appears to be P. auriberbis, and the type specimen actually may have come from south-central Colorado; Eastwood collected P. auriberbis in Pueblo County in 1891.

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

Varieties 5 (5 in the flora).

D. D. Keck (1938) treated this complex as three species: Penstemon cleburnei, P. eriantherus (with three varieties), and P. whitedii (with three subspecies). Most authors followed A. Cronquist (1959), who employed a broader species concept; the approach by Cronquist is followed here.

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

Key
1. Corollas constricted at orifices; styles 9–12(–14) mm; pollen sacs 0.8–1.2 mm.
var. cleburnei
1. Corollas not constricted at orifices; styles 9–20 mm; pollen sacs 1–1.9 mm.
→ 2
2. Stems glabrate or retrorsely hairy, rarely glandular-villous, proximally, glandular-villous distally; leaves glabrous or glabrate abaxially, glabrate or villous to glandular-villous adaxially.
var. whitedii
2. Stems retrorsely hairy and, sometimes, sparsely villous, glandular-villous, or glandular-pubescent distally; leaves retrorsely hairy and, sometimes, sparsely villous or glabrous abaxially, retrorsely hairy or puberulent and, sometimes, villous or glandular-villous adaxially.
→ 3
3. Corollas funnelform; staminodes sparsely lanate distally; leaves glabrous abaxially.
var. argillosus
3. Corollas ventricose-ampliate; staminodes moderately to densely lanate distally; leaves retrorsely hairy, sparsely villous, or glabrous abaxially.
→ 4
4. Pollen sacs explanate; stems retrorsely hairy and, usually, sparsely villous or glandular-villous distally; corollas (20–)22–35(–42) mm.
var. eriantherus
4. Pollen sacs navicular to subexplanate; stems retrorsely hairy, sometimes also glandular-pubescent distally or wholly; corollas 18–25 mm.
var. redactus
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 129. FNA vol. 17, p. 133.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Cristati Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Cristati
Sibling taxa
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. 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. 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
Subordinate taxa
P. eriantherus var. argillosus, P. eriantherus var. cleburnei, P. eriantherus var. eriantherus, P. eriantherus var. redactus, P. eriantherus var. whitedii
Synonyms P. parviflorus
Name authority Pennell: Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 20: 339. (1920) Pursh: Fl. Amer. Sept. 2: 737. (1813) — (as Pentstemon erianthera)
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