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high mountain penstemon, tall yellow beardtongue

dark beardtongue, Whipple's beardtongue, Whipple's penstemon

Habit Herbs. Herbs.
Stems

erect, (6–)10–40 cm, glabrous or puberulent, not glaucous.

ascending to erect, (8–)20–65(–100) cm, glabrous or ± puberulent proximally, ± puberulent or glandular-pubescent distally, not glaucous.

Leaves

basal and cauline, ± leathery or not, glabrous;

basal and proximal cauline (12–)25–115 × (4–)7–22 mm, blade oblanceolate to lanceolate or elliptic, base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 2–4 pairs, sessile, 18–65 × 3–16 mm, blade oblanceolate to lanceolate, sometimes ovate, base tapered to clasping, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute.

basal and cauline, not leathery, glabrous;

basal and proximal cauline 40–90(–130) × (5–)10–30(–75) mm, blade ovate to lanceolate or elliptic, base tapered to cuneate, margins entire or ± repand, denticulate, or dentate, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 2–5 pairs, short-petiolate or sessile, 25–60(–85) × 3–15(–25) mm, blade lanceolate to oblanceolate, base tapered to clasping or cordate-clasping, margins entire, sometimes ± repand to denticulate, apex obtuse to acute.

Thyrses

continuous or interrupted, cylindric, 1–12 cm, axis ± puberulent, rarely glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 1–4, cymes 2–10-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, sometimes ovate, 12–44 × 2–13 mm, margins entire;

peduncles and pedicels erect, glabrous or ± puberulent, rarely glandular-pubescent.

interrupted or continuous, secund, (2–)5–35 cm, axis sparsely to densely glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 2–5(–7), cymes 2–4-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, 11–85 × 1–18 mm, margins entire or ± repand proximally;

peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, glandular-pubescent.

Flowers

calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 5–9 × 1.8–2.7 mm, glabrous, rarely glandular-pubescent;

corolla light yellow, without nectar guides, funnelform, 12–16 mm, glabrous externally, rarely glandular-pubescent, sparsely to moderately yellow-pubescent internally abaxially, tube 5–7 mm, throat gradually inflated, 4–6 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included or longer pair reaching orifice, pollen sacs opposite, navicular to subexplanate, 0.7–0.9 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures smooth;

staminode 8–9 mm, included, 0.4–0.7 mm diam., tip straight to slightly recurved, distal 2–3 mm moderately pilose, hairs yellow or golden yellow, to 0.8 mm;

style 8–11 mm.

calyx lobes lanceolate, 7–10 × 1–2.2 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla brownish purple to bluish violet, sometimes ochroleucous, lavender, or white, with alternating white or lavender and purple nectar guides in dark-colored forms, with lavender nectar guides in light-colored forms, ventricose to ventricose-ampliate, 20–27(–30) mm, glandular-pubescent externally, sparsely white-villous internally abaxially, tube 5–8 mm, throat abruptly inflated, 8–10 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included or longer pair reaching orifice, pollen sacs opposite, explanate, 1–1.4 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures smooth;

staminode 12–15 mm, reaching orifice or exserted, 0.6–1.1 mm diam., tip straight to slightly recurved, distal 1–3 mm sparsely to densely villous, hairs yellow, to 1 mm;

style 12–16 mm.

Capsules

5–8 × 4–5 mm, glabrous.

6–9 × 4–5 mm, glandular-puberulent distally.

2n

= 48.

= 16.

Penstemon flavescens

Penstemon whippleanus

Phenology Flowering Jun–Aug. Flowering Jun–Aug(–Sep).
Habitat Open or wooded, rocky slopes. Rocky slopes in subalpine forests, alpine meadows.
Elevation 1800–2500 m. (5900–8200 ft.) 2100–3700 m. (6900–12100 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
ID; MT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AZ; CO; ID; MT; NM; UT; WY
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Penstemon flavescens is known from the Bitterroot Mountains in east-central Idaho (Clearwater, Idaho, and Shoshone counties) and southwestern Montana (Ravalli County). A yellow-flowered, glandular-pubescent hexaploid from near Hoodoo Pass in Shoshone County, Idaho, might be a hybrid between P. attenuatus and P. flavescens (D. V. Clark 1971). Reports of P. flavescens from Oregon might be based on whitish or yellowish flowered forms of P. attenuatus var. attenuatus (D. D. Keck 1945).

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

Penstemon whippleanus is known from forests and meadows of the Southern and Central Rocky mountains and westward into the Wasatch Mountains and Utah Plateaus. Plants with light-colored corollas often are found growing next to plants with dark-colored corollas.

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

Source FNA vol. 17, p. 203. FNA vol. 17, p. 227.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Penstemon 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. 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. 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. wilcoxii, P. wrightii, P. xylus, P. yampaënsis
Name authority Pennell: Notul. Nat. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 95: 4. (1942) A. Gray: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 6: 73. (1862) — (as Pentstemon)
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