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

Fremont's beardtongue

Gorman's beardtongue, Gorman's penstemon

Stems

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

ascending to erect, (6–)10–30(–65) cm, glabrous proximally, glandular-pubescent to glandular-villous distally.

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 or distal cauline sometimes glabrous abaxially, glandular-pubescent adaxially;

basal and proximal cauline petiolate, (18–)35–100 × (2–)3–10 mm, blade spatulate to oblanceolate, base tapered, margins entire or obscurely serrate, apex rounded to obtuse or acute;

cauline 2–4 pairs, sessile, 15–68 × 2–16 mm, blade oblong to lanceolate, base tapered to clasping, margins entire or obscurely serrate, 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–)3–15 cm, axis glandular-villous, verticillasters 2–6, cymes (1 or)2–5-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate to linear, (5–)10–56 × (1–)3–10 mm;

peduncles and pedicels glandular-pubescent.

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 lanceolate, 7–10.5 × 1.4–2.2 mm, glandular-villous;

corolla lavender to purple or bluish violet, with reddish purple nectar guides, ventricose, 19–30 mm, sparsely white- or yellowish villous internally abaxially, tube 5–6 mm, throat abruptly inflated, not constricted at orifice, 8–14 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, navicular, 1.3–1.5 mm, dehiscing completely, sutures smooth;

staminode 13–17 mm, prominently exserted, 0.4–0.6 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, distal 2–3 mm sparsely lanate, hairs yellow, to 2 mm, and medial 4–8 mm sparsely to moderately pilose, hairs yellow, to 1 mm;

style 11–14 mm.

Capsules

7–10 × 5–6 mm.

7–10 × 4–5 mm.

2n

= 16.

Penstemon fremontii

Penstemon gormanii

Phenology Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat Rocky slopes, sand dunes, gravelly stream terraces, clearings in forests.
Elevation 400–1200 m. (1300–3900 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CO; UT; WY
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AK; BC; NT; YT
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

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

Penstemon gormanii resembles P. eriantherus vars. argillosus and whitedii.

(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. 136.
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. 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. globosus, P. goodrichii, 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
Name authority Torrey & A. Gray: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 6: 60. (1862) — (as Pentstemon fremonti) Greene: Ottawa Naturalist 16: 39. (1902) — (as Pentstemon gormani)
Web links