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Leonard's beardtongue, Leonard's penstemon

inflated beardtongue

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, (10–)17–70 cm, ± retrorsely hairy proximally, also sparsely glandular-pubescent distally, 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, basal sometimes withering by anthesis, not leathery, glabrous (except for puberulent petioles and midveins);

basal and proximal cauline (12–)25–87(–120) × (3–)5–18(–28) mm, blade lanceolate, base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 4–6 pairs, short-petiolate or sessile, 17–98 × 2–16 mm, blade lanceolate to linear, base tapered to clasping, margins entire, apex 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, narrowly conic, (3–)11–30 cm, axis sparsely glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 3–8, cymes 2–4-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate to linear, 10–45 × 1–5 mm, margins entire;

peduncles and pedicels ascending, sparsely glandular-pubescent.

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 lanceolate, 3–6 × 1.4–2 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla lavender to light blue, with reddish purple nectar guides, funnelform, 17–27 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, sparsely white- or yellowish lanate internally abaxially, tube 5–7 mm, throat gradually inflated, 6–7 mm diam., slightly 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, navicular, 1.3–1.6 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures papillate;

staminode 12–14 mm, included, 0.3–0.4 mm diam., tip recurved, distal 7–8 mm moderately to densely pilose, hairs yellow-orange, to 1 mm;

style 11–14 mm.

Capsules

6–8 × 2.5–4.5 mm.

8–10 × 3.2–4 mm, glabrous.

2n

= 16.

Penstemon leonardii

Penstemon inflatus

Phenology Flowering Jun–Aug(–Oct).
Habitat Hillsides, meadows, pinyon-juniper woodlands, pine and pine-Douglas fir forests.
Elevation 2000–3400 m. (6600–11200 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; ID; NV; UT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
NM
[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 inflatus is concentrated in the Sangre de Cristo Range of north-central New Mexico, extending southward into the Sandia-Manzano Mountains. The species has been documented in Bernalillo, Colfax, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Taos, and Torrance counties.

(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. 209.
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. humilis, P. idahoensis, P. immanifestus, P. incertus, 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
Name authority Rydberg: Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 40: 483. (1913) — (as Pentstemon leonardi) Crosswhite: Amer. Midl. Naturalist 74: 436, fig. 5. (1965)
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