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Fremont's beardtongue

globe beardtongue, globe penstemon

Habit Herbs.
Stems

ascending to erect, 8–25(–40) cm, densely retrorsely hairy, not glaucous.

ascending to erect, (10–)20–65 cm, glabrous or sparsely retrorsely hairy distally, not glaucous.

Leaves

basal and cauline, or basal absent or reduced, not leathery, retrorsely hairy or glabrous, sometimes glabrescent, not glaucous;

basal and proximal cauline 30–75(–100) × 2–18(–27) mm, blade oblanceolate to elliptic, base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 2–4 pairs, sessile, rarely short-petiolate, 22–77 × 3–10(–15) mm, blade lanceolate, proximals sometimes oblanceolate, base tapered to truncate, apex acute.

basal and cauline, not leathery, glabrous;

basal and proximal cauline 28–160(–235) × 8–25(–35) mm, blade oblanceolate to elliptic, base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 2–5 pairs, sessile or proximals short-petiolate, 10–130 × 3–35 mm, blade oblong to ovate or lanceolate, base truncate to clasping, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute.

Thyrses

interrupted to ± continuous, cylindric, (3–)8–22(–28) cm, axis moderately to densely retrorsely hairy, verticillasters (5–)7–15, cymes (1 or)2- or 3-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, 16–50(–63) × 3–10 mm;

peduncles and pedicels retrorsely hairy.

continuous or interrupted, cylindric, (1–)2–11(–27) cm, axis glabrous or sparsely retrorsely hairy, verticillasters 1–3(or 4), cymes (2–)4–13-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, (5–)16–66 × (1–)4–19 mm, margins entire;

peduncles and pedicels erect, glabrous.

Flowers

calyx lobes ovate, (3–)4–6.8 × 1.7–2.8 mm, glabrous, rarely ± puberulent;

corolla blue to violet or purple, with violet nectar guides, funnelform, (12–)14–23(–28) mm, glabrous externally, glabrous internally, tube 6–8 mm, throat gradually inflated, not constricted at orifice, 6–9 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs divergent, navicular, (1–)1.2–1.5(–1.8) mm, dehiscing incompletely, proximal 1/4 indehiscent, connective not splitting, sides sparsely to moderately hispid, hairs white or tan, to 0.4(–1) mm, sutures papillate or denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm;

staminode 10–12 mm, included, 0.8–1.1 mm diam., tip recurved, distal 5–7 mm sparsely pilose, hairs yellow, to 1 mm;

style 12–15 mm.

calyx lobes oblanceolate to lanceolate, (4–)5–9 × 1.4–3.5 mm, glabrous;

corolla blue to purple or violet, without nectar guides, tubular-funnelform, 14–21 mm, glabrous externally, moderately white- or yellowish pilose internally abaxially, tube 5–6 mm, throat slightly inflated to slightly ventricose, 4–7 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs divergent, saccate, 0.7–1.2 mm, dehiscing incompletely, distal 1/5–1/4 indehiscent, connective not splitting, sides glabrous, sutures papillate;

staminode 7–9 mm, included, 0.4–0.7 mm diam., tip straight to slightly recurved, distal 1–2 mm densely pilose to lanate, hairs golden yellow, to 1.4 mm, medial 2–4 mm sparsely lanate;

style 8–10 mm.

Capsules

7–10 × 5–6 mm.

5–7 × 3–4 mm, glabrous.

2n

= 16, 32.

Penstemon fremontii

Penstemon globosus

Phenology Flowering May–Aug.
Habitat Dry to wet meadows, moist mountain slopes.
Elevation 800–3100 m. (2600–10200 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CO; UT; WY
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
ID; MT; OR
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

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

The saccate anthers and relatively broad leaves of Penstemon globosus are diagnostic. D. V. Clark (1971) reported plants in northeastern Oregon (Baker, Union, and Wallowa counties) exhibiting degrees of morphologic intermediacy between P. globosus and P. rydbergii. These could be hybrids or introgressants involving those two species, though Clark did not observe any populations where hybridization was evident. Putative hybrids between P. globosus and P. confertus have been documented in Idaho County, Idaho (Clark).

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

Key
1. Leaves densely retrorsely hairy, rarely glabrescent, basal and proximal cauline 2–18(–27) mm wide.
var. fremontii
1. Leaves glabrous or glabrescent, except sometimes margins and midveins, basal and proximal cauline 2–12 mm wide.
var. glabrescens
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 166. FNA vol. 17, p. 205.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Glabri 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. flavescens, P. floribundus, P. floridus, P. flowersii, P. franklinii, 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. 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
Subordinate taxa
P. fremontii var. fremontii, P. fremontii var. glabrescens
Synonyms P. confertus var. globosus
Name authority Torrey & A. Gray: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 6: 60. (1862) — (as Pentstemon fremonti) (Piper) Pennell & D. D. Keck: Publ. Carnegie Inst. Wash. 520: 294. (1940)
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