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Leonard's beardtongue, Leonard's penstemon

low beardtongue, lowly penstemon

Habit Herbs or subshrubs. Herbs.
Stems

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

decumbent to erect, (2–)5–30(–65) cm, retrorsely hairy, 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 retrorsely hairy;

basal and proximal cauline (8–)15–105 × 2–22(–32) mm, blade obovate to ovate or oblanceolate, base tapered, margins entire, sometimes serrulate or serrate, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline (1 or)2–4 pairs, sessile or proximals short-petiolate, 10–35(–45) × 1–11 mm, blade obovate to oblanceolate or lanceolate, base tapered to clasping, margins entire, rarely ± serrate, apex obtuse to acute.

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, cylindric to ± secund, (1–)3–20(–39) cm, axis moderately glandular-pubescent, verticillasters (1–)3–9(–11), cymes (1 or)2–6(–11)-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, rarely ovate, 6–34(–48) × 1–11 mm, margins entire;

peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, glandular-pubescent and, usually, retrorsely hairy.

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, 2.8–5(–6) × 1–1.9 mm, margins entire or erose, apex acute, glandular-pubescent;

corolla blue to purple or violet, with reddish violet nectar guides, bilabiate, not personate, tubular-funnelform, (7–)8–19 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, sparsely to moderately white- or yellow-lanate internally abaxially, tube 2–5 mm, throat slightly inflated, (3–)4.5–6 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, navicular, 0.5–0.8 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures smooth or papillate;

staminode (3–)7–9 mm, included, 0.1–0.3 mm diam., tip slightly recurved, distal 1–4 mm sparsely to densely pilose, hairs yellow or golden yellow, to 0.7 mm (medial hairs sparser and shorter);

style 6–12 mm.

Capsules

6–8 × 2.5–4.5 mm.

4–6 × 2.5–3.5 mm, glabrous.

Penstemon leonardii

Penstemon humilis

Distribution
from FNA
AZ; ID; NV; UT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA; CO; ID; MT; NV; OR; UT; WA; WY
[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.)

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

Penstemon humilis is widespread and extremely variable throughout its range in the western United States. Except for two fairly distinct elements in Utah, most variation in the species is contained in the widespread var. humilis. D. D. Keck (1945) and N. H. Holmgren (1984) summarized the ranges and morphologic tendencies of some of the more distinctive phases.

(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
1. Cauline leaf blade margins ± serrate; basal leaves (4–)7–22(–32) mm wide; sw Utah.
var. obtusifolius
1. Cauline leaf blade margins entire, rarely ± serrate distally; basal leaves 2–20 mm wide; California, nw Colorado, s Idaho, sw Montana, Nevada, e Oregon, Utah, Washington, w Wyoming.
→ 2
2. Basal leaves puberulent or retrorsely hairy; corollas (7–)12–19 mm; California, nw Colorado, s Idaho, sw Montana, Nevada, e Oregon, Utah, Washington, w Wyoming.
var. humilis
2. Basal leaves glabrous, sometimes ± puberulent, especially along midveins and margins; corollas 10–13 mm; nc Utah.
var. brevifolius
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. hirsutus, 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
P. humilis var. brevifolius, P. humilis var. humilis, P. humilis var. obtusifolius
Name authority Rydberg: Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 40: 483. (1913) — (as Pentstemon leonardi) Nuttall ex A. Gray: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 6: 69. (1862) — (as Pentstemon)
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