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fleshy beardtongue

Tushar Range beardtongue

Stems

ascending to erect, 12–35 cm, glabrous.

prostrate, spreading, or ascending, 6–12 cm, retrorsely hairy, hairs pointed, sometimes also appressed, white, scalelike.

Leaves

basal and cauline, glabrous;

basal and proximal cauline 20–110 × 14–40(–60) mm, blade spatulate to obovate, base tapered, apex rounded, mucronate, or retuse;

cauline 1–3 pairs, sessile, 20–58 × 8–23 mm, blade ovate to obovate or lanceolate, base tapered to cordate-clasping, apex obtuse to mucronate or retuse.

not leathery, glabrous or sparsely hairy, hairs appressed, white, scalelike abaxially, ± densely hairy, hairs appressed, white, scalelike adaxially;

cauline 1–5 pairs, petiolate, 6–16 × 2–4.5 mm, blade obovate to spatulate, base tapered, apex rounded to mucronate or acute.

Thyrses

continuous, sometimes interrupted, cylindric, 3–15 cm, axis glabrous, verticillasters 5–10, cymes 2–6-flowered;

proximal bracts ovate to lanceolate, 11–38 × 5–13 mm;

peduncles and pedicels glabrous, rarely obscurely glandular distally.

continuous, secund, 2–12 cm, axis retrorsely hairy, hairs appressed or spreading, white, scalelike, sometimes also glandular-pubescent distally, verticillasters 3–12, cymes 1–3(or 4)-flowered, 1 per node;

proximal bracts spatulate to oblanceolate, 8–17 × 1.4–4 mm;

peduncles and pedicels spreading to ascending, glandular-pubescent, hairs appressed, white, scalelike.

Flowers

calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 4.5–8 × 1.8–2.4 mm, margins erose, broadly scarious, glabrous rarely obscurely glandular-pubescent proximally or along margins;

corolla blue to violet, rarely pink, with or without reddish or purple nectar guides, tubular-funnelform, 16–20(–22) mm, obscurely glandular externally or glabrous, sparsely white-villous internally abaxially or glabrous, tube 6–7 mm, throat gradually inflated, 5–6 mm diam., rounded or slightly 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included or longer pair reaching orifice, pollen sacs opposite, 0.8–1.4 mm, sutures papillate;

staminode 8–10 mm, included or reaching orifice, 0.4–1 mm diam., tip strongly recurved, distal 3–4 mm moderately to densely pubescent, hairs golden yellow, to 0.7 mm;

style 8–10 mm.

calyx lobes lanceolate to oblong, 3–5 × 0.7–1 mm, herbaceous-margined, glandular-pubescent and retrorsely hairy, hairs appressed, white, scalelike;

corolla blue to lavender, or violet, lined internally abaxially with reddish violet nectar guides, ampliate, 12–18 mm, yellow-lanate internally abaxially, tube 5–6 mm, throat gradually inflated, 3.5–5 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens reaching orifice or longer pair exserted, filaments glabrous, pollen sacs opposite, navicular to subexplanate, 0.6–0.8 mm, sutures papillate;

staminode 7–8 mm, included, flattened distally, 0.2–0.3 mm diam., tips straight to recurved, distal 6–7 mm pubescent, hairs yellow or orange, to 0.7 mm;

style 11–14 mm.

Capsules

8–12 × 6–8 mm.

3–5 × 3–4 mm.

Penstemon carnosus

Penstemon xylus

Phenology Flowering May–Jul. Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat Desert or sagebrush shrublands, pinyon-juniper woodlands. Sandy or gravelly slopes, sagebrush shrublands, aspen woodlands, pine woodlands.
Elevation 1500–3000 m. (4900–9800 ft.) 2100–3100 m. (6900–10200 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
UT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
UT
Discussion

Penstemon carnosus is known from eastern Utah from the Uinta Basin south to the San Rafael Swell, Henry Mountains, Aquarius and Paunsaugunt plateaus, and west to the Wasatch Plateau, documented in Carbon, Emery, Garfield, Kane, Sevier, and Wayne counties. The species is confused most frequently with P. lentus, which occurs to the southeast in the Abajo and La Sal mountains, and P. pachyphyllus, which occurs to the immediate north and west. Glands on the corollas usually are obscure; they are most easily observed on flower buds.

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

Penstemon xylus is known from south-central Utah. Populations are documented in Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Piute, and Sevier counties. The placement of P. xylus remains unclear. D. D. Keck (1937) treated it as P. caespitosus subsp. suffruticosus. N. H. Holmgren (1979b) believed it to be more closely related to P. thompsoniae, which also has vestiture of appressed, white, scalelike hairs.

The correct name for Penstemon xylus at the rank of species, which has been a source of confusion, was discussed by C. C. Freeman (2017).

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

Source FNA vol. 17, p. 117. FNA vol. 17, p. 107.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Coerulei Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Caespitosi
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. 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. 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. 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. yampaënsis
Synonyms P. caespitosus var. suffruticosus
Name authority Pennell ex D. D. Keck: Ann. Carnegie Mus. 26: 329. (1937) A. Nelson: Bot. Gaz. 34: 31. (1902) — (as Pentstemon)
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