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Fremont's beardtongue

nodding beardtongue

Habit Herbs.
Stems

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

ascending to erect, 25–65(–70) cm, puberulent or retrorsely hairy, rarely also glandular-pubescent 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, basal often withering by anthesis, not leathery, glabrous or retrorsely hairy to puberulent;

basal and proximal cauline 25–90 × 8–25 mm, blade spatulate, oblanceolate, or ovate, base tapered, rarely truncate, margins subentire or serrate to dentate, apex rounded to obtuse or acute;

cauline (3–)5–7 pairs, short-petiolate or sessile, (20–)30–90(–110) × (2–)5–22 mm, blade lanceolate to oblanceolate, base tapered to cordate-clasping, margins subentire or serrate to dentate, apex 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.

interrupted, conic, 5–26(–32) cm, axis retrorsely hairy and ± glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 3–7, cymes 2–6-flowered, branches of each cyme usually elongating, of equal length, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, 4–28 × 1–6 mm, margins entire or ± serrulate;

peduncles and pedicels spreading or ascending, puberulent or retrorsely hairy and, usually, 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 ovate to lanceolate, 2.5–5.5 × 2–3 mm, sparsely puberulent and glandular-pubescent;

corolla white to light lavender, sometimes tinged pink, with reddish purple nectar guides, tubular, 20–28(–30) mm, glandular-pubescent externally, moderately white- or yellow-lanate internally abaxially, tube 5–7 mm, throat abruptly inflated, 4–8 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, navicular, 1–1.3 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures papillate;

staminode 15–20 mm, exserted, 0.6–0.8 mm diam., tip straight to slightly recurved, distal 8–10 mm densely pilose, hairs yellow, to 1.5 mm;

style 14–20 mm.

Capsules

7–10 × 5–6 mm.

8–10 × 6–7 mm, glabrous.

2n

= 16.

Penstemon fremontii

Penstemon laxiflorus

Phenology Flowering Mar–Jun.
Habitat Sandy or rocky open woods, tallgrass prairies, sand barrens.
Elevation 10–500 m. (0–1600 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CO; UT; WY
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AL; AR; LA; MS; OK; TX
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

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

Penstemon laxiflorus is a species of the central and western Gulf Coastal Plain and southern Interior Lowland. Pennell cited one specimen each from Florida and Georgia; specimens from those states have not been confirmed. The species shares many features with P. australis, which occurs farther east along the southern Atlantic Coastal Plain and eastern Gulf Coastal Plain. Penstemon laxiflorus usually can be distinguished from P. australis by stem vestiture. Penstemon laxiflorus has stems with only short, retrorse hairs or, if glandular hairs also are present, they are sparse and occur just below the inflorescences. By contrast, P. australis has stems with a distinct mix of short, eglandular hairs and much longer, glandular hairs.

(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. 211.
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. 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. 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) Pennell: Monogr. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 1: 229. (1935)
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