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elliptic-leaf penstemon, oval-leaf penstemon, rockvine beardtongue, rocky ledge beardtongue, rocky ledge penstemon

white beardtongue, white penstemon

Habit Subshrubs, cespitose.
Stems

ascending to erect, 5–18 cm, puberulent to retrorsely hairy, usually in lines proximally, not glaucous.

ascending to erect, (10–)15–50(–55) cm, retrorsely hairy proximally, glandular-pubescent distally.

Leaves

deciduous, sometimes persistent, 2–6 pairs, distals seldom distinctly smaller than proximals, petiolate or sessile, (5–)10–42 × 4–15 mm, blade obovate to ovate, elliptic, or lanceolate, base tapered to clasping, margins ± crenulate-serrulate, apex obtuse to acute, glabrous, not glaucous.

basal and cauline, not leathery, glabrate or puberulent to scabrous;

basal and proximal cauline petiolate, 20–85(–110) × (4–)7–18(–20) mm, blade oblanceolate or obovate to lanceolate, base tapered, margins entire to obscurely or distinctly serrate, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 2–5(or 6) pairs, sessile or proximals short-petiolate, 25–65 × (3–)7–19(–21) mm, blade ovate to lanceolate, base tapered to clasping, margins entire or serrate to dentate, apex acute.

Thyrses

continuous, cylindric to ± secund, 1–4 cm, axis glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 2–4, cymes 1-flowered;

proximal bracts ovate to lanceolate, (4–)8–25 × 3–17 mm;

peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, glandular-pubescent.

continuous or interrupted, cylindric, 4–24(–30) cm, axis densely glandular-pubescent, verticillasters (2 or)3–10, cymes 2–7-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, 17–65 × 3–17 mm;

peduncles and pedicels densely glandular-pubescent.

Flowers

calyx lobes lanceolate, 8–15 × (1.8–)2.5–3.7 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla violet to purple, unlined internally but abaxial ridges usually light violet to whitish, not personate, funnelform, 27–40 mm, glabrous externally, sparsely to moderately white-lanate internally abaxially, tube 5–8 mm, throat 8–11 mm diam.;

stamens included, pollen sacs 1.1–1.3 mm;

staminode 9–16 mm, flattened distally, 0.3–0.4 mm diam., tip straight, glabrous or distal 1–3(–13) mm sparsely to moderately villous, hairs yellow, to 1.3 mm;

style 25–28 mm.

calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 4–7 × 1.5–3 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla white, rarely tinged pink or lavender, with red or reddish purple nectar guides, funnelform, (12–)16–20 mm, glandular-pubescent internally, tube 4–6 mm, throat gradually inflated, not constricted at orifice, (4–)6–8 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, explanate, 0.7–1.1 mm, dehiscing completely, sutures smooth;

staminode 8–9 mm, included, 0.3–0.4 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, distal 3–6 mm sparsely to moderately villous, hairs yellowish, to 1 mm;

style 9–11(–13) mm.

Capsules

8–11 × 6–8 mm.

8–12 × 4–7 mm.

2n

= 16.

= 16.

Penstemon ellipticus

Penstemon albidus

Phenology Flowering May–Aug(–Sep). Flowering Apr–Jul(–Sep).
Habitat Cliffs, ledges, rock outcrops, talus slopes. Silty or gravelly soils, mixed-grass and shortgrass prairies.
Elevation 900–2700 m. (3000–8900 ft.) 300–1800 m. (1000–5900 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
ID; MT; WA; AB; BC
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CO; IA; KS; MN; MT; ND; NE; NM; OK; SD; TX; WY; AB; MB; ON; SK
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Penstemon ellipticus is known from the Canadian, Northern, and Middle Rocky mountains, including the Columbia Mountains.

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

Penstemon albidus is remarkably uniform throughout its range. It probably is introduced in Ontario.

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

Source FNA vol. 17, p. 88. FNA vol. 17, p. 128.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Dasanthera > sect. Erianthera 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. 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. 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. 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, P. yampaënsis
Synonyms P. davidsonii var. ellipticus
Name authority J. M. Coulter & Fisher: Bot. Gaz. 18. 302. (1893) — (as Pentstemon) Nuttall: Gen. N. Amer. Pl. 2: 53. (1818) — (as Pentstemon albidum)
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