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Griffin's beardtongue

upland beardtongue

Habit Herbs.
Stems

erect, 12–50 cm, retrorsely hairy proximally, becoming glandular-pubescent distally, not glaucous.

erect, (10–)30–80 cm, glabrous, not glaucous.

Leaves

basal and cauline, not leathery, glabrous or retrorsely hairy abaxially along midvein and glabrous adaxially, ± glaucescent;

basal and proximal cauline 13–55 × 4–8(–12) mm, blade spatulate to oblanceolate or elliptic, base tapered, margins entire, apex rounded to acute;

cauline 2–5(or 6) pairs, sessile, 5–40(–52) × 0.3–5 mm, blade linear, base tapered, margins entire, apex acuminate.

basal and cauline, not leathery, glabrous, not glaucous;

basal and proximal cauline 26–140 × 3–19 mm, blade oblanceolate, base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 2–5 pairs, sessile, 50–90 × (3–)6–9(–18) mm, blade oblanceolate to lanceolate, base clasping, apex acute.

Thyrses

interrupted, secund, 1–14 cm, axis glandular-pubescent, verticillasters (1–)3 or 4(or 5), cymes 1–3-flowered, 1(or 2) per node;

proximal bracts linear, 3–15 × 0.3–1.4 mm;

peduncles and pedicels erect, sometimes ascending, glandular-pubescent.

continuous to ± interrupted, secund or cylindric, 5–40 cm, axis glabrous or ± glandular-pubescent, verticillasters (4 or)5–9, cymes 1–5-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, 15–54 × 2–15 mm;

peduncles and pedicels glabrous or glandular-pubescent, peduncles to 11 mm, pedicels 1–10 mm.

Flowers

calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 3.8–7.5 × 1.5–2.6 mm, glabrescent or glandular-pubescent;

corolla violet to blue or purple, with violet nectar guides, tubular-funnelform, 17–25 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, densely golden-villous internally abaxially, tube 4–7 mm, throat slightly inflated, 5–7 mm diam., prominently 2-ridged abaxially;

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

staminode 10–13 mm, included, 0.2–0.3 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, distal 7–11 mm densely pilose, hairs golden, to 1.5 mm;

style 12–17 mm.

calyx lobes ovate, 3.5–8 × 1.8–3 mm, margins erose, glabrous or glandular-pubescent;

corolla blue to bluish violet, with or without reddish purple nectar guides, ventricose, 17–25(–30) mm, glabrous or glandular-pubescent externally, glabrous or ± glandular-pubescent internally abaxially, tube 5–8 mm, throat gradually inflated, slightly constricted at orifice, 6–8 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens: longer pair reaching orifice or slightly exserted, pollen sacs opposite, navicular, 1.2–1.8 mm, dehiscing incompletely, connective not splitting, sides sparsely to moderately hispid or pubescent, hairs whitish, to 0.3 mm, sutures denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm;

staminode 12–15 mm, reaching orifice or slightly exserted, 0.4–0.6 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, distal 3–5 mm sparsely villous, hairs yellow, to 1 mm;

style 15–18 mm.

Capsules

6–9 × 4–5 mm, glabrous.

8–12 × 4–6 mm.

2n

= 16.

Penstemon griffinii

Penstemon saxosorum

Phenology Flowering Jun–Aug. Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat Rocky hillsides, open coniferous forests, montane grasslands. Sagebrush shrublands, openings in pine forests.
Elevation 2500–3000 m. (8200–9800 ft.) 2400–3600 m. (7900–11800 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CO; NM
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CO; WY
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Populations of Penstemon griffinii are documented in Chaffee, Conejos, Fremont, Mineral, Park, Rio Grande, and Saguache counties, Colorado, and Rio Arriba and Taos counties, New Mexico. Penstemon griffinii can be confused with narrow-leaved plants of P. degeneri, but the pubescence on the internal abaxial surfaces of the corollas of P. griffinii is consistently golden-lanate and extends from the abaxial limbs 5–8 mm into the throats of the corollas. In P. degeneri, the internal abaxial surfaces of the corollas are white- or yellow-lanate, sometimes sparsely so, and the indument barely extends into the throats of the corollas.

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

Penstemon saxosorum is known in north-central and northwestern Colorado and south-central Wyoming. Populations in the Bridger Basin in Moffat County, Colorado, and Daggett and Uintah counties, Utah, lie between the main ranges of P. saxosorum and P. subglaber. Plants in those populations have pollen sacs 0.7–0.9 mm; corollas sparsely glandular and 18–20 mm; and corolla throats 5–7 mm in diameter. M. L. Moorman (1982) believed that they represented an undescribed species. Pending further study, Colorado plants are referred to P. saxosorum and Utah plants to P. subglaber.

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

Source FNA vol. 17, p. 206. FNA vol. 17, p. 178.
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. globosus, P. goodrichii, P. gormanii, P. gracilentus, P. gracilis, P. grahamii, P. grandiflorus, 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. richardsonii, P. roezlii, P. rostriflorus, P. rubicundus, P. rupicola, P. rydbergii, 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
Name authority A. Nelson: Bot. Gaz. 56: 70. (1913) — (as Pentstemon) Pennell: Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 20: 349. (1920)
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