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Sierra beardtongue, Sierra penstemon

inflated beardtongue

Habit Herbs. Herbs.
Stems

decumbent, ascending, or erect, 5–65 cm, glabrous or retrorsely hairy, sometimes also glandular-pubescent distally, not glaucous.

ascending to erect, (10–)17–70 cm, ± retrorsely hairy proximally, also sparsely glandular-pubescent distally, not glaucous.

Leaves

basal and cauline, not leathery, glabrous;

basal and proximal cauline 5–140 × 3–20 mm, blade spatulate to oblanceolate or elliptic, base tapered, margins entire, apex rounded to obtuse or acute;

cauline 2–5 pairs, short-petiolate or sessile, 10–60(–70) × 1–14 mm, blade oblong to oblanceolate or lanceolate, base tapered to clasping, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute.

basal and cauline, basal sometimes withering by anthesis, not leathery, glabrous (except for puberulent petioles and midveins);

basal and proximal cauline (12–)25–87(–120) × (3–)5–18(–28) mm, blade lanceolate, base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 4–6 pairs, short-petiolate or sessile, 17–98 × 2–16 mm, blade lanceolate to linear, base tapered to clasping, margins entire, apex acute.

Thyrses

interrupted, cylindric, 1–12 cm, axis ± glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 1–6, cymes (1 or)2–6-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, 4–35 × 1–6 mm, margins entire;

peduncles and pedicels erect, ± glandular-pubescent.

interrupted, narrowly conic, (3–)11–30 cm, axis sparsely glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 3–8, cymes 2–4-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate to linear, 10–45 × 1–5 mm, margins entire;

peduncles and pedicels ascending, sparsely glandular-pubescent.

Flowers

calyx lobes oblong to lanceolate, 4–6 × 0.7–1.2 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla lavender to blue, violet, or purple, essentially without nectar guides, tubular-funnelform, 10–16 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, moderately yellow-pilose to yellow-lanate internally abaxially, tube 5–7 mm, throat slightly inflated, 3–5 mm diam., prominently 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens: longer pair reaching orifice or slightly exserted, pollen sacs opposite, navicular, 0.6–0.8(–1) mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures smooth;

staminode 6–9 mm, included, 0.3–0.6 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, glabrous or distal 1–3 mm sparsely to moderately pilose, hairs yellow, to 0.5 mm;

style 9–12 mm.

calyx lobes lanceolate, 3–6 × 1.4–2 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla lavender to light blue, with reddish purple nectar guides, funnelform, 17–27 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, sparsely white- or yellowish lanate internally abaxially, tube 5–7 mm, throat gradually inflated, 6–7 mm diam., slightly 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, navicular, 1.3–1.6 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures papillate;

staminode 12–14 mm, included, 0.3–0.4 mm diam., tip recurved, distal 7–8 mm moderately to densely pilose, hairs yellow-orange, to 1 mm;

style 11–14 mm.

Capsules

4–6 × 2.5–3.5 mm, glabrous.

8–10 × 3.2–4 mm, glabrous.

2n

= 16.

Penstemon heterodoxus

Penstemon inflatus

Phenology Flowering Jun–Aug(–Oct).
Habitat Hillsides, meadows, pinyon-juniper woodlands, pine and pine-Douglas fir forests.
Elevation 2000–3400 m. (6600–11200 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; NV
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
NM
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

Penstemon heterodoxus comprises three partially sympatric varieties centered in the Sierra Nevada of eastern California.

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

Penstemon inflatus is concentrated in the Sangre de Cristo Range of north-central New Mexico, extending southward into the Sandia-Manzano Mountains. The species has been documented in Bernalillo, Colfax, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Taos, and Torrance counties.

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

Key
1. Thyrse axes usually sparsely glandular-pubescent; n California.
var. shastensis
1. Thyrse axes moderately to densely glandular-pubescent; e California, wc Nevada.
→ 2
2. Stems 5–25 cm; basal and proximal cauline leaves 5–50 × 3–10 mm; verticillasters (1–)3; ec California, wc Nevada.
var. heterodoxus
2. Stems 15–35 cm; basal and proximal cauline leaves (17–)20–75 × 6–18 mm; verticillasters 2–6; se California.
var. cephalophorus
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 207. FNA vol. 17, p. 209.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Penstemon 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. 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. 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. 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
Subordinate taxa
P. heterodoxus var. cephalophorus, P. heterodoxus var. heterodoxus, P. heterodoxus var. shastensis
Name authority A. Gray: in A. Gray et al., Syn. Fl. N. Amer. 2(1): 269. (1878) — (as Pentstemon) Crosswhite: Amer. Midl. Naturalist 74: 436, fig. 5. (1965)
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