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globe beardtongue, globe penstemon

blue-stem beardtongue, bluestem penstemon

Habit Herbs.
Stems

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

ascending to erect, (16–)20–60 cm, glabrous or ± puberulent proximally, ± glaucous.

Leaves

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.

basal and cauline, ± leathery or not, glabrous or proximals puberulent proximally or along midveins, ± glaucous;

basal and proximal cauline (30–)50–95 × 10–15(–28) mm, blade spatulate to oblanceolate, base tapered, margins entire, usually undulate, apex rounded to obtuse;

cauline 2–4 pairs, sessile, 20–73 × 4–15 mm, blade lanceolate to elliptic, base truncate to clasping, margins crisped or undulate, apex acute.

Thyrses

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.

interrupted, secund to subsecund, (4–)8–31 cm, axis glabrous, verticillasters 5–9(–12), cymes (1 or)2–5-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts ovate to lanceolate, 15–50 × 3–23 mm;

peduncles and pedicels glabrous, peduncles to 18 mm, pedicels 1–7 mm.

Flowers

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.

calyx lobes ovate, 3.5–4.5 × 1.4–2 mm, apex acute to acuminate, glabrous;

corolla blue to violet, with violet nectar guides, funnelform to weakly ventricose, 14–18(–20) mm, glabrous or ± glandular externally, glabrous internally, tube 5–8 mm, throat gradually inflated, not constricted at orifice, 5–7 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens: longer pair reaching orifice, pollen sacs divergent, navicular-sigmoid, 1.2–1.7 mm, dehiscing incompletely, proximal 1/4 indehiscent, connective not splitting, sides sparsely to moderately pilose, hairs white, to 0.5(–0.7) mm, sutures denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm;

staminode: 9–11 mm, reaching orifice, 0.2–0.4 mm diam., tip straight, distal 2–6 mm sparsely pilose, hairs golden yellow, to 0.6 mm;

style 9–12 mm.

Capsules

5–7 × 3–4 mm, glabrous.

6–10 × 4–5 mm.

2n

= 16, 32.

Penstemon globosus

Penstemon cyanocaulis

Phenology Flowering May–Aug. Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat Dry to wet meadows, moist mountain slopes. Rocky slopes, pinyon-juniper, oak, and oak-juniper woodlands.
Elevation 800–3100 m. (2600–10200 ft.) 1300–2700 m. (4300–8900 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
ID; MT; OR
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CO; UT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

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.)

Penstemon cyanocaulis is known from Mesa, Montrose, and San Miguel counties, Colorado, and Carbon, Emery, Grand, and San Juan counties, Utah. It has crisped or undulate leaf margins that help distinguish it in the field.

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

Source FNA vol. 17, p. 205. FNA vol. 17, p. 165.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Penstemon 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. 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
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. 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. 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
Synonyms P. confertus var. globosus
Name authority (Piper) Pennell & D. D. Keck: Publ. Carnegie Inst. Wash. 520: 294. (1940) Payson: Bot. Gaz. 60: 380. (1915) — (as Pentstemon)
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