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bunchleaf penstemon, foothill beardtongue, foothill penstemon

Degener's beardtongue

Habit Subshrubs. Herbs.
Stems

ascending to erect, 30–150 cm, glabrous or retrorsely hairy, hairs pointed, rarely glaucous.

ascending to erect, 25–40 cm, retrorsely hairy proximally, glandular-pubescent distally, not glaucous.

Leaves

essentially cauline, basal absent or essentially so, opposite, glabrous or retrorsely hairy to puberulent, hairs pointed, rarely glaucous;

cauline 5–11 pairs, petiolate or sessile, 10–100 × 0.5–12 mm, blade oblanceolate to lanceolate or linear, base tapered to clasping, margins entire, apex acute.

basal and cauline, basal sometimes withering by anthesis, not leathery, glabrous or retrorsely hairy proximally;

basal and proximal cauline 25–70(–85) × 5–23 mm, blade ovate to lanceolate, base tapered, margins entire, apex acute;

cauline 3–6 pairs, petiolate or sessile, 20–90(–110) × 2–18 mm, blade oblanceolate to lanceolate, base tapered, margins entire, apex acute.

Thyrses

interrupted or continuous, cylindric, (6–)10–32 cm, axis glabrous or retrorsely hairy, verticillasters (3–)5–14, cymes 1(–3)-flowered, (1 or)2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate to linear, 5–65 × 0.5–5 mm;

peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, glabrous or retrorsely hairy.

interrupted, narrowly conic, 3–10 cm, axis sparsely glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 3–6, cymes 2–10-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate to linear, 3–40 × 0.5–4 mm, margins entire;

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

Flowers

calyx lobes obovate to oblanceolate or ovate to lanceolate, 2.6–6(–7) × 1.3–3.3 mm, glabrous or puberulent;

corolla blue to violet or purple, without nectar guides, ventricose to ventricose-ampliate, 24–38 mm, glabrous externally, glabrous internally, tube 7–10 mm, throat gradually inflated, 8–11 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included or longer pair reaching orifice or slightly exserted, filaments glabrous, pollen sacs parallel, 2.2–3 mm, distal 1/3–1/2 indehiscent, sides pubescent to lanate, hairs white, to 0.8 mm near filament attachment, sutures denticulate, teeth to 0.2 mm;

staminode 16–19 mm, included, 0.4–0.6 mm diam., glabrous;

style 18–27 mm.

calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 3.5–7 × 1–2 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla blue to light violet, with reddish purple nectar guides, funnelform, 14–19 mm, glandular-pubescent or glabrescent externally, glabrous or sparsely white- or yellow-villous internally abaxially, tube 5–6 mm, throat gradually inflated, 4–9 mm diam., slightly 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, navicular, 0.9–1.1 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures papillate;

staminode 15–16 mm, included, 0.3–0.4 mm diam., tip straight to slightly recurved, distal 6–10 mm pilose, hairs golden, to 1.5 mm;

style 13–16 mm.

Capsules

6–9 × 4–5 mm.

7–10 × 2.5–4 mm, glabrous.

2n

= 16, 32.

Penstemon heterophyllus

Penstemon degeneri

Phenology Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat Pine-juniper woodlands, ponderosa pine parklands, montane grasslands.
Elevation 1800–2900 m. (5900–9500 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CO
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

Penstemon heterophyllus apparently occurs only in California (see discussion under 209c. var. purdyi). The species includes three varieties concentrated in the Coast Ranges from Humboldt County south to San Bernardino and San Diego counties.

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

Penstemon degeneri is known from the Arkansas River Canyon from near Salida to Cañon City, and to near Wet Mountain Valley. Most populations are in Fremont County (B. L. Beatty et al. 2004); the species is also known from Chaffee and Custer counties. Typical, large-leaved forms are unlikely to be confused with any other species in the area, but narrow-leaved forms can be mistaken for P. griffinii. F. S. Crosswhite (1965b) described the corollas of P. degeneri as bearded at the orifices with light yellow hairs. In most populations, the abaxial limbs and throats are sparsely yellow-lanate; however, pubescence can vary greatly within populations, from sparsely white-lanate only on the limbs to moderately yellow-lanate on the limbs and throats. When the throats are bearded in P. degeneri, the hairs extend 1–3 mm into the throats; in P. griffinii they extend deeper into the throats, usually 5–8 mm.

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

Key
1. Thyrse axes glabrous; stems glabrous, rarely retrorsely hairy; calyx lobes obovate to oblanceolate, rarely lanceolate.
var. heterophyllus
1. Thyrse axes retrorsely hairy; stems retrorsely hairy; calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate.
→ 2
2. Cauline leaves 15–45 × 0.5–4 mm, axillary fascicles present, sometimes absent.
var. australis
2. Cauline leaves (25–)30–100 × 2–12 mm, axillary fascicles absent, rarely present.
var. purdyi
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 235. FNA vol. 17, p. 199.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Saccanthera 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. heterodoxus, 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. 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
Subordinate taxa
P. heterophyllus var. australis, P. heterophyllus var. heterophyllus, P. heterophyllus var. purdyi
Name authority Lindley: Edwards’s Bot. Reg. 22: plate 1899. (1836) — (as Pentstemon heterophyllum) Crosswhite: Amer. Midl. Naturalist 74: 434, fig. 4. (1965)
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