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Sierra beardtongue, Sierra penstemon

sharp-sepal 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, 25–85 cm, glabrate or puberulent, 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 often withering by anthesis, not leathery, glabrous or ± puberulent along major veins;

basal and proximal cauline 65–160 × 8–48 mm, blade oblanceolate to elliptic, base tapered, margins serrate, sometime subentire, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline (3–)7 or 8 pairs, sessile, 45–140 × 6–37 mm, blade lanceolate, proximals sometimes oblanceolate, base truncate to clasping, margins sharply serrate, sometimes ± serrate, apex acute to acuminate.

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, conic, 6–20 cm, axis glabrous or retrorsely hairy, rarely ± glandular-pubescent distally, verticillasters 3–8, cymes (3–)5–15-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, 22–100 × 6–30 mm, margins serrate;

peduncles and pedicels ascending, retrorsely hairy or ± glandular-pubescent distally.

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 ovate to lanceolate, 3.1–6 × 1–2.2 mm, glabrous or sparsely glandular-pubescent;

corolla lavender to violet, with sometimes faint reddish purple nectar guides, funnelform, 10–14 mm, sparsely glandular-pubescent externally, moderately to densely white-villous internally abaxially, tube 4–6 mm, throat moderately inflated, 4–6 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, navicular, 0.8–1 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures smooth or ± papillate;

staminode 8–9 mm, exserted, 0.3–0.4 mm diam., tip straight, distal 4–5 mm moderately to densely pubescent, hairs orangish, to 1 mm;

style 8–10 mm.

Capsules

4–6 × 2.5–3.5 mm, glabrous.

4–5 × 3–4 mm, glabrous.

Penstemon heterodoxus

Penstemon tenuis

Phenology Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat Alluvial soils, open floodplain forests, open hardwood flatwoods, marsh margins, low prairies, wet depressions.
Elevation 0–200 m. (0–700 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; NV
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AR; LA; MO; MS; TX
[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 tenuis is widespread in the western Gulf Coastal Plain and lower Mississippi River Basin.

(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. 224.
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. 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. 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) Small: Fl. S.E. U.S., 1061, 1337. (1903) — (as Pentstemon)
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