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Charleston beardtongue, smoothleaf beardtongue, smoothleaf penstemon

ash beardtongue, ash penstemon, small flower penstemon

Habit Herbs.
Stems

ascending to erect, 4–55(–80) cm, glabrous, not glaucous.

ascending, (8–)10–40 cm, glabrous or retrorsely hairy, not glaucous.

Leaves

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

basal and proximal cauline (20–)30–100 × 4–15(–20) mm, blade oblanceolate, base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 2–7 pairs, sessile or proximals sometimes short-petiolate, 16–80 × 2–20 mm, blade lanceolate to linear, base tapered, apex obtuse to acute.

essentially cauline, basal usually poorly developed, not leathery, glabrous;

basal and proximal cauline 10–40(–65) × 1–6 mm, blade oblanceolate, base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 3–5 pairs, sessile or proximals short-petiolate, 12–60 × 2–5(–7) mm, blade oblanceolate to lanceolate or linear, base tapered, margins entire, apex acute.

Thyrses

interrupted or continuous, secund, (1–)3–30(–40) cm, axis glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 2–8(–12), cymes 1–3(or 4)-flowered, (1 or)2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, (6–)10–60 × (1–)3–24 mm;

peduncles and pedicels glandular-pubescent.

interrupted, cylindric, 1–14 cm, axis glabrous or ± puberulent at axils, verticillasters (1 or)2–6, cymes (1–)3–7-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate to linear, 8–30(–45) × 1–7 mm, margins entire;

peduncles and pedicels erect, glabrous.

Flowers

calyx lobes lanceolate, (3.8–)4.5–8.5 × 1.6–3.8 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla violet to blue or purple, with violet or reddish purple nectar guides, ventricose, 18–35 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, glabrous or white-lanate internally abaxially, glandular-pubescent adaxially, tube 6–10 mm, throat gradually inflated, not constricted at orifice, 5–10 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens: longer pair reaching orifice, pollen sacs divergent to nearly opposite, navicular, 1.2–2 mm, dehiscing incompletely, proximal 1/5 indehiscent, connective not splitting, sides glabrous, sutures denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm;

staminode 10–14 mm, included, 0.4–0.5 mm diam., tip straight, distal 1–5 mm sparsely to densely pilose, hairs yellow or orangish yellow, to 1 mm;

style 12–19 mm.

calyx lobes obovate to ovate, 1–1.8 × 0.7–1.1 mm, apex truncate to cuspidate, glabrous;

corolla violet to blue or purple, without nectar guides, funnelform, 7–9(–11) mm, glabrous externally, moderately yellowish or white-pilose internally abaxially, tube 3–4 mm, throat slightly inflated, 2–3 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included or longer pair reaching orifice, pollen sacs opposite, explanate, 0.3–0.4(–0.5) mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures smooth;

staminode 4–6 mm, included, 0.3–0.4 mm diam., tip straight, distal 0.5–1 mm sparsely to moderately pilose, hairs yellow, to 0.4 mm;

style 5–6 mm.

Capsules

7–11 × 5–6 mm.

2.5–4 × 1.8–2.5 mm, glabrous.

2n

= 16, 32.

Penstemon leiophyllus

Penstemon cinicola

Phenology Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat Dry, volcanic soils in sagebrush openings in pine forests.
Elevation 1000–2600 m. (3300–8500 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
NV; UT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA; OR
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

F. S. Crosswhite (1967) recognized three species in the Penstemon leiophyllus complex: P. francisci-pennellii, P. keckii, and P. leiophyllus. N. H. Holmgren (1984) expanded P. leiophyllus to include the other species as varieties. The complex is unique in the section in having patches of glandular hairs on the internal, adaxial surfaces of the corolla throats. The varieties are essentially allopatric; characters distinguishing them are minor.

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

Penstemon cinicola occurs along the eastern flank of the Cascade Range in central Oregon (Crook, Deschutes, Douglas, Klamath, and Lake counties) south to northern California (Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, and Tehama counties).

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

Key
1. Stems 15–55(–80) cm; cauline leaves 4–20 mm wide, blades lanceolate, usually flat and straight; corollas glabrous, rarely white-lanate, internally abaxially; Utah.
var. leiophyllus
1. Stems 4–25(–43) cm; cauline leaves 2–5(–10) mm wide, blades lanceolate to linear, usually folded lengthwise and curved; corollas white-lanate, rarely glabrous, internally abaxially; Nevada.
→ 2
2. Corollas (22–)25–35 mm; Lincoln, Nye, and White Pine counties, Nevada.
var. francisci-pennellii
2. Corollas 18–22 mm; Clark County, Nevada.
var. keckii
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 170. FNA vol. 17, p. 198.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Glabri 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. leiophyllus var. francisci-pennellii, P. leiophyllus var. keckii, P. leiophyllus var. leiophyllus
Name authority Pennell: Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 20: 346. (1920) D. D. Keck: Publ. Carnegie Inst. Wash. 520: 294. (1940)
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