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Platte River penstemon, Wasatch beardtongue, Wasatch penstemon

Yampa beardtongue

Stems

decumbent to erect, 5–70(–90) cm, glabrous or sparsely to densely puberulent, not glaucous.

prostrate to ascending, to 1 cm, scabrous or puberulent.

Leaves

basal and cauline, ± leathery or not, glabrous or basal ones sparsely to densely puberulent, not glaucous;

basal and proximal cauline (20–)45–160 × 3–40(–55) mm, blade obovate to oblanceolate, base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 1–6 pairs, sessile or proximals short- to long-petiolate, 16–100 × 5–45(–60) mm, blade ovate or oblanceolate to lanceolate, base cordate-clasping to clasping, apex obtuse to acute.

essentially basal, not leathery, scabrous;

basal and proximal cauline sessile, 15–25(–35) × 1.5–2.6(–4.5) mm, blade oblanceolate to linear, base tapered, margins entire or obscurely dentate distally, apex obtuse to acute.

Thyrses

continuous or interrupted, cylindric to subsecund, 2–30 cm, axis glabrous, verticillasters 2–12, cymes 3–7-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts ovate to lanceolate, 7–80 × (1–)3–35 mm;

peduncles and pedicels glabrous, peduncles to 20 mm, pedicels 1–9 mm.

essentially absent, 0.1–0.6 cm, axis puberulent, verticillasters 1 or 2, cymes 1(–3)-flowered, 1(or 2) per node;

proximal bracts oblanceolate to linear, 8–20 × 1–3 mm;

peduncles and pedicels glandular-pubescent and scabrous.

Flowers

calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 3–6.5 × 1.3–2.6 mm, apex acute to acuminate or cuspidate, glabrous;

corolla blue to violet, without nectar guides, ventricose, 12–25(–28) mm, glabrous externally, glabrous internally, tube 6–11 mm, throat gradually inflated, not constricted at orifice, 6–11 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included or longer pair reaching orifice, pollen sacs divergent, navicular, 1.2–2(–2.2) mm, dehiscing incompletely, proximal 1/4–1/3 indehiscent, connective not splitting, sides hispid, hairs white, to 0.5 mm, sutures denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm;

staminode 11–14 mm, included or reaching orifice, 0.3–0.6 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, distal 6–9 mm sparsely to moderately pilose to lanate, hairs orange, yellow, or white, to 1 mm;

style 9–16 mm.

calyx lobes lanceolate, 5–6.5 × 1–1.8 mm, glandular-pubescent and scabrous;

corolla lavender to bluish lavender, without nectar guides, funnelform, 14–18 mm, yellowish or whitish villous internally abaxially, tube 5–6 mm, throat gradually inflated, not constricted at orifice, 4.5–6 mm diam., slightly 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens: longer pair reaching orifice, pollen sacs widely divergent to opposite, navicular, 0.8–1.3 mm, dehiscing completely, sutures papillate;

staminode 8–11 mm, prominently exserted, 0.5–0.8 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, distal 5–7 mm densely pubescent, hairs orange, to 1 mm;

style 9–12 mm.

Capsules

7–15 × 5–10 mm.

3.5–5 × 3–4 mm.

Penstemon cyananthus

Penstemon yampaënsis

Phenology Flowering May–Jul.
Habitat Semi-barren ledges and ridges, hilltops, pinyon-juniper woodlands, sagebrush shrublands.
Elevation 1800–2200 m. (5900–7200 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
ID; MT; UT; WY
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CO; UT; WY
Discussion

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

Penstemon compactus and P. longiflorus have been treated as elements of the P. cyananthus complex (F. W. Pennell 1920b; D. D. Keck 1940b). All of these taxa occur from the Wasatch Range northward into the Central Rocky Mountains.

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

Penstemon yampaënsis is known from Moffat County, Colorado, Daggett and Uintah counties, Utah, and Sweetwater County, Wyoming. The species appears to be closely related to P. acaulis. Seed release appears to occur as the walls of the capsules deteriorate, rather than through an apical opening as in other Penstemon species. This type of dehiscence also occurs in P. acaulis.

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

Key
1. Cauline leaf blades lanceolate to oblanceolate; calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, apices acute to cuspidate, rarely acuminate.
var. subglaber
1. Cauline leaf blades ovate to lanceolate; calyx lobes lanceolate, rarely ovate, apices acuminate, rarely acute.
→ 2
2. Verticillasters 4–12; thyrses 4–30 cm; stems ascending to erect, 20–70(–90) cm; corollas 16–25(–28) mm.
var. cyananthus
2. Verticillasters 2 or 3; thyrses 2–6 cm; stems decumbent to ascending, 5–25(–32) cm; corollas 12–16(–20) mm.
var. judyae
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 163. FNA vol. 17, p. 143.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Glabri Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Cristati
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. crandallii, P. cusickii, 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. xylus
Subordinate taxa
P. cyananthus var. cyananthus, P. cyananthus var. judyae, P. cyananthus var. subglaber
Synonyms P. acaulis var. yampaënsis
Name authority Hooker: Bot. Mag. 75: plate 4464. (1849) — (as Pentstemon) Penland: Madroño 14: 156, fig. 2. (1958)
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