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Crandall's beardtongue

broad-leaf penstemon, egg-leaf beardtongue, ovate-leaf beardtongue

Habit Herbs.
Stems

prostrate, decumbent, ascending, or erect, 2–28 cm, retrorsely hairy or pubescent.

ascending to erect, (20–)30–100 cm, puberulent to pubescent, sometimes glabrous, not glaucous.

Leaves

not leathery, glabrous, glabrate, scabrous, or pubescent, hairs pointed;

cauline (1 or)2–4 pairs, petiolate, (2–)4–47 × 0.5–8 mm, blade elliptic to obovate, oblanceolate, or linear, base tapered, apex acute to mucronate.

basal and cauline, not leathery, puberulent to pubescent, sometimes only along midvein and margins;

basal and proximal cauline 40–150(–230) × 14–50(–70) mm, blade ovate to deltate-ovate, base truncate to tapered, margins serrate-dentate, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline (3–)5–7 pairs, sessile, 25–80(–120) × 15–45(–70) mm, blade oblong to ovate or triangular-ovate, base clasping, margins serrate, apex acute.

Thyrses

continuous, ± secund, 1–8(–16) cm, axis retrorsely hairy, hairs pointed and, usually, sparsely glandular-pubescent, verticillasters (1 or)2–8, cymes 1–4-flowered, 1 or 2 per node;

proximal bracts oblanceolate to linear, 10–25 × 0.5–4 mm;

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

interrupted, narrowly conic, 6–30 cm, axis densely glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 4–10, cymes 5–13-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts ovate to lanceolate, 11–35(–70) × 4–30(–45) mm, margins serrate, sometimes entire;

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

Flowers

calyx lobes lanceolate, 4–7(–7.5) × 0.9–1.8(–2.2) mm, broadly scarious-margined, apex acuminate to caudate, retrorsely puberulent, hairs pointed, and sparsely glandular-pubescent;

corolla blue to violet or lavender, lined internally abaxially with violet or reddish purple nectar guides, funnelform, 14–20 mm, sparsely to densely yellow-lanate or yellow-pilose internally abaxially, tube 6–8 mm, throat gradually inflated, 6–8 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens: longer pair reaching orifice, filaments glabrous, pollen sacs opposite, navicular to subexplanate, 0.9–1.4 mm, sutures papillate;

staminode 11–14 mm, reaching orifice or exserted, flattened distally, 0.3–0.4 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, distal 7–10 mm densely pilose, hairs golden yellow, to 1 mm;

style 13–15 mm.

calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, (2–)3–5 × 0.9–1.6(–1.9) mm, margins narrowly scarious, sparsely to densely glandular-pubescent;

corolla violet to blue or purple, with reddish purple nectar guides, funnelform, 15–22 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, densely white-villous internally abaxially, rarely glabrous, tube 5–6 mm, throat slightly inflated, 5–7 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, navicular, 0.8–1.1 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures smooth or papillate;

staminode 9–12 mm, reaching orifice or slightly exserted, 0.3–0.4 mm diam., tip recurved, distal 1–2 mm densely pilose, hairs yellow, to 1.5 mm;

style 9–12 mm.

Capsules

7–8 × 3.5–4.5 mm.

4–6 × 2.5–4.5 mm, glabrous.

2n

= 16.

Penstemon crandallii

Penstemon ovatus

Phenology Flowering May–Aug.
Habitat Open rocky slopes and woods.
Elevation 10–900 m. (0–3000 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CO; NM; UT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
OR; WA; BC
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 5 (5 in the flora).

Penstemon crandallii comprises five partly sympatric, sometimes intergrading varieties.

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

Penstemon ovatus is known in the Cascade Mountains from Multnomah County, Oregon, to southwestern British Columbia. The species is easily confused with the more eastern P. wilcoxii, which has a less glandular inflorescence. Herbarium specimens of P. ovatus also sometimes are misidentified as P. serrulatus, which has an eglandular inflorescence and saccate pollen sacs.

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

Key
1. Leaves glabrous or sparsely puberulent, especially along margins, blades obovate to elliptic; stems prostrate or decumbent; Colorado.
var. procumbens
1. Leaves glabrate or scabrous to pubescent, blades linear, oblanceolate, or obovate; stems decumbent, ascending, or erect; Colorado, New Mexico, Utah.
→ 2
2. Leaf blades obovate or oblanceolate; stems decumbent to ascending.
→ 3
3. Leaves glabrate or scabrous, blades oblanceolate; Colorado, Utah.
var. crandallii
3. Leaves ± scabrous, blades obovate or oblanceolate; Utah.
var. atratus
2. Leaf blades linear to oblanceolate; stems ascending to erect.
→ 4
4. Stems retrorsely hairy or puberulent, ascending to erect; Colorado, New Mexico.
var. glabrescens
4. Stems puberulent to pubescent, erect; Colorado.
var. ramaleyi
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 101. FNA vol. 17, p. 214.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Caespitosi 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. clevelandii, P. clutei, P. cobaea, P. comarrhenus, P. compactus, P. concinnus, P. confertus, P. confusus, 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. 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. crandallii var. atratus, P. crandallii var. crandallii, P. crandallii var. glabrescens, P. crandallii var. procumbens, P. crandallii var. ramaleyi
Name authority A. Nelson: Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 26: 354. (1899) — (as Pentstemon) Douglas: Bot. Mag. 56: plate 2903. (1829) — (as Pentstemon)
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