The green links below add additional plants to the comparison table. Blue links lead to other Web sites.
enable glossary links

Crandall's beardtongue

beak penstemon, beak-flower beardtongue, Bridge penstemon, Bridges' penstemon

Stems

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

(24–)30–100 cm.

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 proximal cauline 20–52 × 3–11 mm, blade base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse;

cauline 4–12 pairs, 20–70 × 2–14 mm, blade base tapered, apex obtuse or 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.

(3–)6–28 cm, verticillasters (3–)6–12, cymes 2–5-flowered;

proximal bracts lanceolate to linear, 6–36 × 1–6 mm;

peduncles and pedicels 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, 4–6 × 1.7–2.1 mm;

corolla orangish red to scarlet, throat usually yellowish or orangish, unlined internally, 22–33 mm, sparsely white-puberulent, tube 3–5 mm, throat 4–6 mm diam.;

pollen sacs 1.8–2.3(–2.5) mm;

staminode 14–16 mm;

style 18–26 mm, exserted.

Capsules

7–8 × 3.5–4.5 mm.

7–10 × 4–5 mm.

2n

= 16.

Penstemon crandallii

Penstemon rostriflorus

Phenology Flowering Jul–Aug(–Sep).
Habitat Rocky sagebrush shrublands, pinyon-juniper woodlands, montane forests.
Elevation 1200–3200 m. (3900–10500 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CO; NM; UT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AZ; CA; CO; NM; NV; UT; Mexico (Baja California)
[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.)

A chromosome count of 2n = 42 (P. G. Zhukova 1967) appears to be in error.

The Kawaiisu tribe of southern California prepared a poultice from the roots of Penstemon rostriflorus that was applied to swollen limbs (D. E. Moerman 1998).

(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. 98.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Caespitosi Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Bridgesiani
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. 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. 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
Synonyms P. bridgesii
Name authority A. Nelson: Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 26: 354. (1899) — (as Pentstemon) Kellogg: Hutchings’ Ill. Calif. Mag. 5: 102, fig. [p. 102]. (1860) — (as Pentstemon rostriflorum)
Web links