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bush penstemon, shrubby beardtongue, shrubby penstemon

Lemhi beardtongue, Lemhi penstemon

Habit Shrubs or subshrubs, usually cespitose.
Stems

ascending, 13–40 cm, glabrous or retrorsely hairy, usually in lines, not glaucous.

ascending to erect, 25–80 cm, retrorsely hairy, not glaucous.

Leaves

persistent, 2–6 pairs, distals usually distinctly smaller than proximals, petiolate or sessile, (5–)6–50(–60) × 3–12 mm, blade lanceolate to oblanceolate or elliptic, base tapered to clasping, margins entire or ± serrate, or dentate, apex obtuse to acute, glabrous, not glaucous.

basal and cauline, not leathery, retrorsely hairy, not glaucous;

basal and proximal cauline (35–)50–160 × (5–)8–24 mm, blade oblanceolate to lanceolate, base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 4–8 pairs, short-petiolate or sessile, 25–85(–125) × 6–15 mm, blade elliptic to lanceolate, base tapered to truncate, apex acute, rarely obtuse.

Thyrses

continuous to ± interrupted, secund, 3–11 cm, axis sparsely glandular-pubescent, sometimes also retrorsely hairy proximally, verticillasters 2–7, cymes 1-flowered;

proximal bracts lanceolate, 4–16 × 1–5 mm;

peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, glandular-pubescent.

interrupted or continuous, cylindric, 7–30 cm, axis retrorsely hairy proximally, mostly glandular-pubescent distally, verticillasters 3–7(–9), cymes 2–8(–10)-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, 18–95 × 5–20 mm;

peduncles and pedicels retrorsely hairy.

Flowers

calyx lobes lanceolate to linear, (7–)9–13(–15) × 1.8–3 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla bluish lavender to purplish or violet, unlined internally or lined with faint bluish lavender nectar guides abaxially, not personate, funnelform, 28–48 mm, glabrous externally, sparsely to moderately white-lanate or -villous internally abaxially, tube (5–)8–10 mm, throat 8–13 mm diam.;

stamens included, pollen sacs 1–1.3(–1.5) mm;

staminode 7–12 mm, slightly flattened distally, 0.1–0.3 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, distal 1–4 mm sparsely to densely pubescent, hairs yellow, to 1.2 mm;

style 24–27 mm.

calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, (4.8–)6–11 × 2.2–3.5 mm, margins erose, glabrous or sparsely glandular, sometimes also sparsely puberulent;

corolla violet to blue, without nectar guides, ventricose, 25–35 mm, glabrous externally, glabrous internally, tube 7–10 mm, throat gradually inflated, not constricted at orifice, 7–11 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs divergent to nearly opposite, sigmoid, 1.8–2.2 mm, dehiscing incompletely, proximal 1/5–1/4 indehiscent, connective not splitting, sides sparsely hispid, hairs white, to 0.3 mm, sutures denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm;

staminode 14–16 mm, included, 0.7–0.8 mm diam., tip straight, glabrous;

style (11–)15–22 mm.

Capsules

8–13 × 5.5–7 mm.

8–11 × 5–6 mm.

Penstemon fruticosus

Penstemon lemhiensis

Phenology Flowering Jun–Jul.
Habitat Montane grasslands, sagebrush shrublands, pine and pine-fir woodlands.
Elevation 1200–2500 m. (3900–8200 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
ID; MT; OR; WA; WY; AB; BC
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
ID; MT
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

Penstemon fruticosus occurs widely across the Central and Northern Rocky mountains and Cascade Ranges from southwestern Alberta and interior British Columbia to northwestern Wyoming, southern Idaho, and southern Oregon.

Drug, food, fiber, dye, and decorative uses of Penstemon fruticosus are reported among six tribes of Native Americans in northwestern North America (D. E. Moerman 1998).

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

Penstemon lemhiensis is known from the Central Rocky Mountains in east-central Idaho (Lemhi County) and southwestern Montana (Beaverhead, Deer Lodge, Ravalli, and Silver Bow counties).

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

Key
1. Leaf margins sharply serrate to dentate, at least distally, blades oblanceolate to elliptic, 6–25 × 3–8 mm; wc Idaho, ne Oregon, se Washington.
var. serratus
1. Leaf margins entire, serrate, or dentate, rarely sharply serrate or dentate, blades lanceolate to oblanceolate or elliptic, (5–)8–50(–60) × 3–12 mm; sw Alberta, s British Columbia, Idaho, sw Montana, Oregon, Washington, nw Wyoming.
→ 2
2. Leaf blades lanceolate to oblanceolate or elliptic; corollas 28–40 mm; s British Columbia, Idaho, sw Montana, Oregon, Washington, nw Wyoming.
var. fruticosus
2. Leaf blades lanceolate; corollas 35–48 mm; sw Alberta, s British Columbia, n Idaho, ne Washington.
var. scouleri
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 88. FNA vol. 17, p. 172.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Dasanthera > sect. Erianthera Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Glabri
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. fremontii, P. fruticiformis, 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. 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. fruticosus var. fruticosus, P. fruticosus var. scouleri, P. fruticosus var. serratus
Synonyms Gerardia fruticosa P. speciosus subsp. lemhiensis
Name authority (Pursh) Greene: Pittonia 2: 239. (1892) — (as Pentstemon) (D. D. Keck) D. D. Keck & Cronquist: Brittonia 8: 248. (1957)
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