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scarlet bugler

shining penstemon, wax-leaf beardtongue, waxleaf penstemon

Stems

ascending to erect, 30–120 cm, glaucous.

ascending to erect, (5–)9–40 cm, glabrous.

Leaves

glabrous, glaucous;

cauline 5–11 pairs, short-petiolate or sessile, 40–100 × 10–40 mm, blade ovate to lanceolate, base tapered to auriculate-clasping, margins entire, apex rounded to acute.

basal and cauline, glabrous;

basal and proximal cauline 15–140 × 2–27 mm, blade spatulate to oblanceolate or lanceolate, base tapered, apex obtuse to acute, sometimes rounded or mucronate;

cauline 2–4(–6) pairs, sessile, (11–)18–85 × (3–)5–28(–32) mm, blade ovate to lanceolate, base clasping or cordate-clasping, apex acuminate to acute, sometimes mucronate.

Thyrses

interrupted, secund to ± cylindric, 15–60(–100) cm, axis glabrous or obscurely scabrous, verticillasters 8–18(–22), cymes 1–5(–11)-flowered;

proximal bracts ovate to lanceolate, (3–)7–25(–87) × (1–)3–14(–30) mm;

peduncles and pedicels erect, glabrous or obscurely scabrous.

± interrupted, cylindric, (2–)5–20 cm, axis glabrous, verticillasters (2–)4–10, cymes 2–5-flowered;

proximal bracts orbiculate to ovate or lanceolate, 19–70 × 7–28 mm;

peduncles and pedicels glabrous, peduncles to 3 mm.

Flowers

calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 3–6 × 2–3 mm, margins erose, glabrous;

corolla scarlet, without nectar guides, nearly radially symmetric, weakly bilabiate, salverform, 25–33 mm, glabrous externally, glabrous internally, tube 8–10 mm, throat slightly inflated, 4.5–6 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens: longer pair reaching orifice, pollen sacs explanate, 0.9–1.2 mm, sutures smooth;

staminode 13–14 mm, terete to slightly flattened distally, 0.1–0.3 mm diam., tip straight, glabrous;

style 18–27 mm, exserted.

calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 3–7.5 × (0.8–)1.2–1.8 mm, margins entire or erose, narrowly scarious, glabrous;

corolla blue to violet, with reddish violet nectar guides, tubular-funnelform, (10–)13–15(–18) mm, glabrous externally, glabrous or sparsely white-villous internally abaxially, tube 4–6 mm, throat gradually inflated, 4–6 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens included or longer pair reaching orifice to slightly exserted, pollen sacs opposite, 0.7–1.2 mm, sutures papillate;

staminode 8–11 mm, reaching orifice or slightly exserted, 0.8–1.5 mm diam., tip strongly recurved, distal 3–4 mm densely villous, hairs golden yellow, to 1.5 mm, hairs on proximal part of staminode mostly along margins;

style 8–10 mm.

Capsules

8–11 × 6–7 mm.

9–13 × 5–8 mm.

2n

= 16.

Penstemon centranthifolius

Penstemon nitidus

Phenology Flowering Feb–Jul.
Habitat Hillsides, chaparral, oak, pinyon-juniper, and Joshua tree woodlands, coastal sage scrub, pine forests.
Elevation 0–1800 m. (0–5900 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; Mexico (Baja California)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
ID; MT; ND; SD; WY; AB; BC; MB; SK
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Penstemon ×parishii A. Gray, a naturally occurring hybrid between P. centranthifolius and P. spectabilis (A. D. Wolfe and W. J. Elisens 1993), has been reported from Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties, California (D. D. Keck 1937; Paul Wilson and M. Valenzuela 2002). A wild hybrid between P. centranthifolius and P. eatonii also was reported from San Bernardino County, California (Wilson and Valenzuela). Penstemon ×dubius Davidson was described from Mount Lowe in the San Gabriel Mountains, Los Angeles County, California, growing with P. centranthifolius and P. grinnellii. Hybridization between P. centranthifolius and P. grinnellii has been documented using allozyme and DNA data (Wolfe and Elisens 1993, 1994).

Three southern and central Californian tribes of Native Americans used Penstemon centranthifolius for drugs, food, and decorations (D. E. Moerman 1998).

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

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Some specimens of Penstemon nitidus from western Montana are referable to variety with difficulty.

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

Key
1. Proximal bracts orbiculate to ovate, rarely lanceolate; calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 3–6.5 mm; Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming.
var. nitidus
1. Proximal bracts ovate to lanceolate; calyx lobes lanceolate, (3.2–)5–7.5 mm; Idaho, Montana.
var. polyphyllus
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 151. FNA vol. 17, p. 122.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Gentianoides Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Coerulei
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. carnosus, P. caryi, 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. 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. nitidus var. nitidus, P. nitidus var. polyphyllus
Synonyms Chelone centranthifolia
Name authority (Bentham) Bentham: Scroph. Ind., 7. (1835) — (as Pentstemon centranthifolium) Douglas ex Bentham: in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 10: 323. (1846) — (as Pentstemon)
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