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Cleveland's beardtongue

Degener's beardtongue

Habit Herbs. Herbs.
Stems

ascending to erect, 30–70 cm, glaucous.

ascending to erect, 25–40 cm, retrorsely hairy proximally, glandular-pubescent distally, not glaucous.

Leaves

basal and proximal cauline 15–90 × 8–35 mm, blade ovate, base truncate to tapered, margins entire or coarsely dentate, apex acute;

cauline 4–7 pairs, short-petiolate or sessile, 10–70 × 8–32 mm, blade cordate to triangular-lanceolate, base tapered or truncate on proximal leaves to connate-perfoliate on distal leaves, margins coarsely dentate, sometimes entire, apex acute.

basal and cauline, basal sometimes withering by anthesis, not leathery, glabrous or retrorsely hairy proximally;

basal and proximal cauline 25–70(–85) × 5–23 mm, blade ovate to lanceolate, base tapered, margins entire, apex acute;

cauline 3–6 pairs, petiolate or sessile, 20–90(–110) × 2–18 mm, blade oblanceolate to lanceolate, base tapered, margins entire, apex acute.

Thyrses

interrupted, secund, 10–40(–65) cm, axis glabrous or glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 6–12(–22), cymes 2–8-flowered;

proximal bracts depressed-ovate to ovate or triangular, 6–45 × 11–26 mm;

peduncles and pedicels spreading to ascending or erect, glabrous or glandular-pubescent.

interrupted, narrowly conic, 3–10 cm, axis sparsely glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 3–6, cymes 2–10-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate to linear, 3–40 × 0.5–4 mm, margins entire;

peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, sparsely glandular-pubescent.

Flowers

calyx lobes ovate, 3.2–6 × 1.6–4 mm, glabrous or glandular-pubescent;

corolla red to reddish purple, with or without reddish or reddish purple nectar guides, bilabiate, tubular-funnelform to slightly ventricose, 17–24 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, glabrous internally or glandular-pubescent, sometimes also pilose abaxially, tube 6–9 mm, length 1.8–2 times calyx lobes, throat gradually inflated, slightly constricted or not at orifice, 5–8 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens included or longer pair reaching orifice, filaments glabrous, pollen sacs navicular or explanate, 1.2–1.7 mm, sutures smooth or denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm;

staminode 6–11 mm, included, 0.3–0.5 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, glabrous or distal 1–6 mm pilose, hairs yellow, to 0.8 mm, proximal 1–2 mm sometimes glandular-puberulent;

style 11–14 mm, glabrous.

calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 3.5–7 × 1–2 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla blue to light violet, with reddish purple nectar guides, funnelform, 14–19 mm, glandular-pubescent or glabrescent externally, glabrous or sparsely white- or yellow-villous internally abaxially, tube 5–6 mm, throat gradually inflated, 4–9 mm diam., slightly 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, navicular, 0.9–1.1 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures papillate;

staminode 15–16 mm, included, 0.3–0.4 mm diam., tip straight to slightly recurved, distal 6–10 mm pilose, hairs golden, to 1.5 mm;

style 13–16 mm.

Capsules

6–9 × 5–7 mm, glabrous.

7–10 × 2.5–4 mm, glabrous.

2n

= 16.

Penstemon clevelandii

Penstemon degeneri

Phenology Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat Pine-juniper woodlands, ponderosa pine parklands, montane grasslands.
Elevation 1800–2900 m. (5900–9500 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; nw Mexico
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CO
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

Penstemon clevelandii is an ancient, stable, diploid hybrid between P. centranthifolius and P. spectabilis (A. D. Wolfe et al. 1998). Penstemon ×parishii A. Gray is a naturally occurring hybrid, also with P. centranthifolius and P. spectabilis as parents; it has been reported from Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties, California (D. D. Keck 1937b; Paul Wilson and M. Valenzuela 2002). Keck reported that P. clevelandii var. clevelandii could be distinguished from P. ×parishii by the former’s shorter and narrower corollas, more glandular-pubescent inflorescences, and explanate pollen sacs.

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

Penstemon degeneri is known from the Arkansas River Canyon from near Salida to Cañon City, and to near Wet Mountain Valley. Most populations are in Fremont County (B. L. Beatty et al. 2004); the species is also known from Chaffee and Custer counties. Typical, large-leaved forms are unlikely to be confused with any other species in the area, but narrow-leaved forms can be mistaken for P. griffinii. F. S. Crosswhite (1965b) described the corollas of P. degeneri as bearded at the orifices with light yellow hairs. In most populations, the abaxial limbs and throats are sparsely yellow-lanate; however, pubescence can vary greatly within populations, from sparsely white-lanate only on the limbs to moderately yellow-lanate on the limbs and throats. When the throats are bearded in P. degeneri, the hairs extend 1–3 mm into the throats; in P. griffinii they extend deeper into the throats, usually 5–8 mm.

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

Key
1. Distal cauline leaves sessile, bases connate-perfoliate; pollen sacs navicular, sutures denticulate; peduncles, pedicels, and calyx lobes glabrous.
var. connatus
1. Distal cauline leaves short-petiolate or sessile, bases tapered or truncate; pollen sacs explanate, sutures smooth; peduncles, pedicels, and calyx lobes glandular-pubescent, rarely glabrous.
→ 2
2. Corollas glandular-pubescent internally, not pilose or sparsely white- or yellowish pilose internally abaxially; staminodes 9–11 mm.
var. clevelandii
2. Corollas not glandular-pubescent internally, densely white- or yellowish pilose internally abaxially; staminodes 6–8 mm.
var. mohavensis
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 248. FNA vol. 17, p. 199.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Spectabiles Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Penstemon
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. centranthifolius, P. cinicola, 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. 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
Subordinate taxa
P. clevelandii var. clevelandii, P. clevelandii var. connatus, P. clevelandii var. mohavensis
Name authority A. Gray: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 11: 94. (1876) — (as Pentstemon clevelandi) Crosswhite: Amer. Midl. Naturalist 74: 434, fig. 4. (1965)
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