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Leonard's beardtongue, Leonard's penstemon

hairy beardtongue, northeastern beardtongue, penstémon hirsute

Habit Herbs or subshrubs. Herbs.
Stems

decumbent to ascending or erect, (5–)10–30(–47) cm, puberulent or retrorsely hairy, hairs pointed, not glaucous.

ascending to erect, 30–80 cm, retrorsely hairy and sparsely to densely glandular-villous, not glaucous.

Leaves

cauline, opposite, glabrous, sometimes proximals puberulent, hairs pointed, not glaucous;

cauline 2–7 pairs, short-petiolate or sessile, 11–48(–60) × 2–12 mm, blade oblanceolate to spatulate or obovate, rarely linear, base tapered, margins entire, apex rounded to obtuse or acute.

basal and cauline, not leathery, glabrous or sparsely glandular-lanate along midveins, rarely moderately glandular-lanate;

basal and proximal cauline 20–126 × 4–16 mm, blade spatulate to oblanceolate, lanceolate, spatulate, or elliptic, base tapered, margins entire or serrate to dentate, apex rounded to obtuse or acute;

cauline 5–8(–10) pairs, sessile or short-petiolate, 20–130 × 2–30 mm, blade lanceolate to oblanceolate, base clasping or tapered, margins finely to coarsely serrate or dentate, apex acute to acuminate.

Thyrses

continuous or interrupted, cylindric to ± secund, (1–)2–15(–25) cm, axis glabrous or retrorsely hairy, verticillasters 2–8, cymes 1–4-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, 10–35 × 1–4 mm;

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

interrupted, conic, 6–37 cm, axis glandular-pubescent to glandular-lanate, verticillasters (3 or)4–8, cymes 2–11(–15)-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate to linear, 8–60 × 1–6 mm, margins entire or ± serrate to dentate;

peduncles and pedicels ascending, glandular-pubescent to glandular-lanate.

Flowers

calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 3–5.5 × 0.9–2.2 mm, margins entire or erose, scarious, apex acuminate to caudate, glabrous;

corolla lavender to blue or violet, with or without faint lavender nectar guides, funnelform to ventricose, 14–26 mm, glabrous externally, glabrous internally, tube 5–8 mm, throat gradually inflated, 6–8(–10) mm diam., slightly 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included or longer pair reaching orifice, filaments glabrous, pollen sacs parallel, 0.9–1.9 mm, distal 1/2–2/3 indehiscent, sides glabrous or puberulent, hairs white, to 0.1 mm, sutures denticulate, teeth to 0.2 mm;

staminode 10–15 mm, included or reaching orifice, 0.6–0.9 mm diam., glabrous;

style 12–18 mm.

calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 4–7 × 1.5–2.3 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla lavender or purplish, with or without faint violet nectar guides, bilabiate, personate, tubular, 20–26(–28) mm, glandular-pubescent externally, moderately to densely white-villous internally abaxially, tube 6–7 mm, throat slightly inflated, 6–8 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, navicular to subexplanate, 0.8–1 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures papillate;

staminode 13–16 mm, exserted, 0.6–0.7 mm diam., tip straight, distal 11–14 mm moderately to densely villous, hairs yellowish, to 1.2 mm;

style 16–18 mm.

Capsules

6–8 × 2.5–4.5 mm.

6–9 × 5–6 mm, glabrous.

2n

= 16.

Penstemon leonardii

Penstemon hirsutus

Phenology Flowering May–Jul.
Habitat Sandy or rocky woods, rocky fields, bluffs, cliffs.
Elevation 10–200 m. (0–700 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; ID; NV; UT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CT; DC; DE; IL; IN; KY; MA; MD; ME; MI; NJ; NY; OH; PA; RI; TN; VA; VT; WI; WV; ON; QC
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

Penstemon leonardii is common in the Wasatch Mountains, Utah Plateaus, and mountain ranges in the eastern Basin and Range Province. Elements allied with it have been interpreted variously as one species comprising three varieties, two species (one with two varieties), or three species; the broadest concept is followed here.

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

Penstemon hirsutus occurs widely in the northeastern United States, and in southern Ontario and Quebec. Its long, tubular, personate corollas and herbage with some stellate hairs may indicate a close relationship with P. oklahomensis and P. tenuiflorus.

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

Key
1. Corollas 20–26 mm; pollen sacs (1.2–)1.4–1.9 mm; e Nevada, w Utah.
var. patricus
1. Corollas 14–22 mm; pollen sacs 0.9–1.6 mm; nw Arizona, se Idaho, se Nevada, Utah.
→ 2
2. Corolla limbs blue to lavender; thyrses continuous; se Idaho, n Utah.
var. leonardii
2. Corolla limbs lavender to violet; thyrses continuous or interrupted; nw Arizona, se Nevada, sw Utah.
var. higginsii
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 237. FNA vol. 17, p. 208.
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. 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. 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. 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. leonardii var. higginsii, P. leonardii var. leonardii, P. leonardii var. patricus
Synonyms Chelone hirsuta, C. pentstemon
Name authority Rydberg: Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 40: 483. (1913) — (as Pentstemon leonardi) (Linnaeus) Willdenow: Sp. Pl. 3: 227. (1800) — (as Pentstemon)
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