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Charleston beardtongue, smoothleaf beardtongue, smoothleaf penstemon

Fendler's beardtongue, Fendler's penstemon

Stems

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

erect, (15–)20–55(–60) cm, glabrous.

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.

basal and cauline, glabrous;

basal and proximal cauline 20–100 × 4–24 mm, blade spatulate to oblanceolate, base tapered, apex rounded to obtuse or acute, sometimes mucronate;

cauline 2–5 pairs, sessile, (14–)23–95 × (4–)6–31 mm, blade lanceolate or ovate to trullate, base clasping to cordate-clasping, apex obtuse to 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, (5–)11–38 cm, axis glabrous, verticillasters (3 or)4–12, cymes 2- or 3(–5)-flowered;

proximal bracts trullate to ovate, 11–70 × 7–38 mm;

peduncles and pedicels 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 ovate, 4.5–7 × 1.5–3.5 mm, margins entire or erose, broadly scarious, glabrous or obscurely glandular along margins distally;

corolla lavender to violet or bluish, with violet or reddish purple nectar guides, tubular-salverform, 14–23(–28) mm, glabrous externally or glandular, glabrous or sparsely white-villous internally abaxially, tube 7–9 mm, throat slightly inflated, 4–6 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, 1–1.3 mm, sutures papillate;

staminode 8–11 mm, reaching orifice, 0.8–1.6 mm diam., tip recurved, distal 1–3 mm villous, hairs golden yellow, to 1.5 mm;

style 11–15 mm.

Capsules

7–11 × 5–6 mm.

10–15 × 8–10 mm.

2n

= 16.

Penstemon leiophyllus

Penstemon fendleri

Phenology Flowering Mar–Jun(–Jul).
Habitat Sandy or gravelly soils, mixed-grass, shortgrass, or sandsage prairies.
Elevation 200–2300 m. (700–7500 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
NV; UT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AZ; KS; NM; OK; TX; Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila)
[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 fendleri occurs on mesas and plains from the southern Great Plains through western Texas, New Mexico, and southeastern Arizona into northern Mexico.

The Ramah Navajo of western New Mexico use Penstemon fendleri as a dermatological aid (D. E. Moerman 1998).

(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. 117.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Glabri Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Coerulei
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. 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. 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) Torrey & A. Gray: in War Department [U.S.], Pacif. Railr. Rep. 2(4): 168, plate 5. (1857) — (as Pentstemon)
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