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abajo beardtongue, handsome beardtongue, handsome penstemon

Payson's beardtongue

Stems

ascending to erect, 14–40(–60) cm, glabrous.

decumbent to ascending, 8–18(–25) cm, glabrous, not glaucous.

Leaves

basal and cauline, glabrous;

basal and proximal cauline 40–65(–110) × 8–20(–30) mm, blade obovate, base tapered, apex obtuse to acute, sometimes mucronate;

cauline 2–4 pairs, sessile, (9–)12–60 × 7–26 mm, blade lanceolate to ovate or elliptic, base tapered to clasping or cordate-clasping, apex obtuse to acute, sometimes mucronate.

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

basal and proximal cauline (15–)30–65(–95) × 2–12(–20) mm, blade oblanceolate to elliptic, rarely spatulate, base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute, rarely rounded;

cauline 1–3 pairs, sessile, 20–70(–85) × 5–12 mm, blade oblanceolate to lanceolate or linear, base tapered to truncate, margins undulate, apex acute.

Thyrses

interrupted or ± continuous, secund, sometimes cylindric, 5–23 cm, axis glabrous, verticillasters 4–8, cymes 1–3(or 4)-flowered;

proximal bracts ovate to lanceolate, (3–)7–38 × (1–)2–18 mm;

peduncles and pedicels glabrous, peduncles to 28 mm.

continuous, secund, (3–)5–19 cm, axis glabrous, verticillasters 2–6, cymes 2–4-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, rarely elliptic or oblanceolate, 11–55 × 5–11 mm;

peduncles and pedicels glabrous or ± glandular, peduncles to 8 mm, pedicels 1–4 mm.

Flowers

calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 5–6.7(–7.2) × 2–3(–3.7) mm, margins entire or erose, broadly scarious, glabrous;

corolla lavender to violet, blue, pinkish blue, or white, with or without reddish violet nectar guides, tubular-funnelform, 17–20(–22) mm, glabrous externally, sparsely white-villous internally abaxially or glabrous, tube 5–8 mm, throat gradually inflated, 5–6 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens included or longer pair reaching orifice, pollen sacs opposite, 1.1–1.6 mm, sutures papillate;

staminode 8–9 mm, reaching orifice or slightly exserted, 0.6–1 mm diam., tip strongly recurved, distal 3–4 mm sparsely to densely villous, hairs mostly along margins, yellowish, to 1 mm;

style 10–12 mm.

calyx lobes ovate to obovate, (3.5–)4–7 × 1.8–2(–3) mm, apex acuminate, sometimes caudate, glabrous or sparsely glandular;

corolla blue to violet or lavender, with or without faint purple nectar guides, ventricose, 14–22 mm, glabrous externally, glabrous internally, tube 5–8 mm, throat gradually inflated, not constricted at orifice, 4–6.5 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens: longer pair reaching orifice, pollen sacs divergent, navicular, 1.2–1.7 mm, dehiscing incompletely, proximal 1/5 indehiscent, connective not splitting, sides pilose, hairs white, to 0.3 mm, sutures papillate or denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm;

staminode 8–12 mm, included, 0.4–0.6 mm diam., tip straight, distal 5–6 mm sparsely pilose to villous, hairs yellow, to 0.5 mm;

style 9–12 mm.

Capsules

9–12 × 5–7 mm.

5.5–8 × 3.5–4.5 mm.

Seeds

3.5–5 mm.

Penstemon lentus

Penstemon paysoniorum

Phenology Flowering May–Jul.
Habitat Shale, sandstone, and limestone outcrops, gravels, sagebrush shrublands.
Elevation 1900–2600 m. (6200–8500 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CO; NM; UT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
WY
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Penstemon lentus is found in the Four Corners region of the Colorado Plateau. Reported differences (N. H. Holmgren 1984) between the two varieties in the sizes of the pollen sacs appear to be inconsistent and not taxonomically useful.

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

Penstemon paysoniorum is known from southwestern Wyoming in Fremont, Lincoln, Natrona, Sublette, Sweetwater, and Uinta counties. The species can be confused with P. scariosus var. garrettii, with which it is sympatric in extreme southwestern Wyoming. A form of P. paysoniorum with oblanceolate to broadly elliptic basal and proximal cauline leaves is represented among herbarium specimens from south-central Sublette County and west-central and northwestern Sweetwater County, roughly in the middle of the range of the species.

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

Key
1. Corollas lavender to violet, blue, or pinkish blue; Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah.
var. lentus
1. Corollas white; San Juan County, Utah.
var. albiflorus
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 120. FNA vol. 17, p. 175.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Coerulei Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Glabri
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. leiophyllus, P. lemhiensis, 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. 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. lentus var. albiflorus, P. lentus var. lentus
Name authority Pennell: Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 20: 359. (1920) D. D. Keck: Leafl. W. Bot. 5: 57. (1947)
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