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Charleston beardtongue, smoothleaf beardtongue, smoothleaf penstemon

Tracy's beardtongue, Trinity penstemon

Habit Herbs.
Stems

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

erect, 8–12 cm, glabrous, glaucescent.

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, leathery, glabrous;

basal and proximal cauline 11–40 × 3–14 mm, blade spatulate to oval or orbiculate, base tapered, margins entire or ± denticulate or serrulate distally, apex rounded to obtuse;

cauline 2–4, sessile, 9–20 × 4–10 mm, blade: proximals spatulate, distals obovate or elliptic, base truncate, margins entire or ± denticulate distally, apex rounded or mucronate.

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.

continuous, cylindric, 2–4 cm, axis glabrous, verticillasters 2 or 3, cymes 2–5-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts elliptic to ovate, 6–18 × 2–10 mm, margins entire;

peduncles and pedicels ascending to 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 ovate, 1.5–2 × 0.8–1.2 mm, glabrous or ± glandular-ciliolate;

corolla white to pink, without nectar guides, funnelform, 11–15 mm, glabrous externally, densely white-villous internally abaxially, tube slightly differentiated, 3–5 mm, throat slightly inflated, 2–3 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, explanate, 0.4–0.5 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures smooth;

staminode 8–10 mm, reaching orifice, 0.2–0.3 mm diam., tip straight, distal 2–3 mm sparsely pilose, hairs white or yellowish, to 0.6 mm;

style 9–13 mm.

Capsules

7–11 × 5–6 mm.

5–8 × 3–4.5 mm, glabrous.

Penstemon leiophyllus

Penstemon tracyi

Phenology Flowering Jul–Aug.
Habitat Rock crevices.
Elevation 2000–2100 m. (6600–6900 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
NV; UT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA
[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 tracyi has been documented only in Siskiyou and Trinity 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. 224.
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. 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. tenuis, P. teucrioides, P. thompsoniae, P. thurberi, P. tidestromii, P. tiehmii, 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: Amer. Midl. Naturalist 23: 603, fig. 2. (1940)
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