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

glandular penstemon, sticky-stem beardtongue, sticky-stem penstemon

cut-leaf beardtongue, Richardson's beardtongue, Richardson's penstemon, shrubby penstemon

Habit Herbs. Subshrubs.
Stems

ascending to erect, (30–)40–100 cm, viscid glandular-pubescent, not glaucous.

ascending to erect, 20–95 cm, retrorsely hairy, hairs pointed, not glaucous.

Leaves

basal and cauline, opposite, viscid glandular-pubescent, not glaucous;

basal and proximal cauline 25–120(–260) × 7–20(–65) mm, blade elliptic to lanceolate, base tapered, margins entire, subentire, or irregularly serrate to dentate, apex acute to acuminate;

cauline 4–10 pairs, sessile, 32–80(–120) × 12–45 mm, blade ovate to obovate, elliptic, or lanceolate, base tapered to cordate-clasping, margins entire or subentire to irregularly serrate to dentate, apex obtuse to acute or acuminate.

cauline, opposite or subopposite, glabrate or retrorsely hairy, not glaucous;

cauline 5–13 pairs, short-petiolate or sessile, 13–70 × 5–30 mm, blade ovate to lanceolate, base tapered, margins laciniate-dentate to irregularly laciniate-pinnatifid, apex obtuse to acute.

Thyrses

interrupted, cylindric, (5–)8–31 cm, axis viscid glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 3–7, cymes (1 or)2–8-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts ovate, 18–60 × 11–44 mm;

peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, viscid glandular-pubescent.

interrupted, cylindric, 2–25(–48) cm, axis densely glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 3–7(–15), cymes 2–7-flowered, 1 or 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, 7–43 × 2–16 mm;

peduncles and pedicels spreading, sparsely to densely glandular-pubescent.

Flowers

calyx lobes lanceolate, 9–15 × 2.3–3.8 mm, viscid glandular-pubescent;

corolla lavender to bluish lavender or purple, with dark violet nectar guides, ampliate, (28–)30–40 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, sparsely to moderately white-pubescent internally abaxially, tube 9–11 mm, throat gradually inflated, 12–15 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens included, filaments glabrous, pollen sacs parallel, 1.6–2.2 mm, distal 1/2 indehiscent, sides glabrous, sutures denticulate, teeth to 0.2 mm;

staminode 22–26 mm, exserted, 0.8–1 mm diam., glabrous, rarely distal 2–4 mm sparsely pubescent, hairs yellow, to 0.4 mm;

style 20–26 mm.

calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 4–7 × 1.3–2.3 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla bluish to lavender, or pinkish, with reddish purple nectar guides, ventricose-ampliate, 15–32 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, glabrous internally or sparsely to moderately white-lanate abaxially, tube 7–12 mm, throat gradually inflated, 5–14 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens: longer pair reaching orifice or exserted, filaments glabrous, pollen sacs parallel, 1.3–2 mm, distal 1/2 indehiscent, sides glabrous, sutures denticulate, teeth to 0.2 mm;

staminode 16–23 mm, exserted, 0.3–0.8 mm diam., glabrous or distal 2–8 mm sparsely lanate, hairs yellow, to 2 mm;

style 11–23 mm.

Capsules

9–13 × 5–6.5 mm.

5–9 × 4–5 mm.

2n

= 16.

Penstemon glandulosus

Penstemon richardsonii

Distribution
from FNA
ID; OR; WA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
OR; WA; BC
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Two allopatric varieties of Penstemon glandulosus have been distinguished based on basal leaf morphology. Leaf margins occasionally vary from entire to serrate or dentate among individuals in some populations, but the general pattern of leaf variation does appear to be geographically correlated.

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

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

Penstemon richardsonii consists of three weakly differentiated varieties that are partially sympatric on the eastern slope of the Cascade Range.

The Okanagan-Coville tribe of northeastern Washington and the Paiute tribe of the Great Basin region used Penstemon richardsonii as a drug plant to treat typhoid fever and as a dermatological aid (D. E. Moerman 1998).

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

Key
1. Basal leaves: blade margins irregularly serrate to dentate.
var. glandulosus
1. Basal leaves: blade margins entire or subentire.
var. chelanensis
1. Corollas 15–20 mm; styles 11–15 mm; staminodes glabrous or sparsely hairy distally.
var. curtiflorus
1. Corollas 22–32 mm; styles 16–23 mm; staminodes with distal 2–8 mm sparsely lanate, rarely glabrous.
→ 2
2. Leaf blades ovate to lanceolate (in outline), margins laciniate-dentate to irregularly laciniate-pinnatifid.
var. richardsonii
2. Leaf blades ovate, sometimes lanceolate, margins dentate, rarely laciniate-dentate.
var. dentatus
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 233. FNA vol. 17, p. 241.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Saccanthera Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Saccanthera
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. fruticosus, P. gairdneri, P. gibbensii, P. glaber, 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. 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. glandulosus var. chelanensis, P. glandulosus var. glandulosus
P. richardsonii var. curtiflorus, P. richardsonii var. dentatus, P. richardsonii var. richardsonii
Name authority Douglas ex Lindley: Edwards’s Bot. Reg. 15: plate 1262. (1829) — (as Pentstemon glandulosum) Douglas ex Lindley: Bot. Reg. 13: plate 1121. (1828) — (as Pentstemon)
Web links