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Moffat's beardtongue, Moffatt's beardtongue

Alberta beardtongue, Alberta penstemon

Habit Herbs.
Stems

ascending to erect, (3–)7–30 cm, retrorsely hairy.

ascending to erect, (10–)15–38 cm, glabrous or sparsely retrorsely hairy, sometimes also sparsely glandular-pubescent.

Leaves

basal and cauline, not leathery, retrorsely hairy;

basal and proximal cauline petiolate, 15–45(–65) × 3–20(–25) mm, blade spatulate to oblanceolate or ovate, base tapered, margins entire or obscurely dentate distally, apex rounded to obtuse;

cauline (1 or)2–4 pairs, sessile, 16–55 × 4–10(–15) mm, blade lanceolate to oblanceolate or linear, base tapered to clasping, margins entire or obscurely dentate distally, apex obtuse to acute.

basal and cauline, ± leathery or not, glabrous, sometimes sparsely retrorsely hairy along midvein abaxially, not glaucous;

basal and proximal cauline (13–)40–90 × (3–)6–18 mm, blade ovate to oblanceolate or lanceolate, base tapered, margins ± serrate or dentate, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 2–6 pairs, short-petiolate or sessile, 15–55 × 3–10 mm, blade lanceolate, proximals sometimes oblanceolate to oblong, base tapered or truncate, margins entire or ± serrate to ± dentate, apex obtuse to acute.

Thyrses

continuous to ± interrupted, cylindric, 1–12 cm, axis glandular-pubescent, verticillasters (1–)3–7, cymes (1 or)2–4-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts ovate to lanceolate, 8–34 × 2–16 mm;

peduncles and pedicels glandular-pubescent.

continuous or ± interrupted, cylindric, 4–19 cm, axis glabrous or ± glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 4–8, cymes (1 or)2–6-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, 9–40 × 3–15 mm, margins entire or ± serrate to dentate;

peduncles and pedicels erect, sometimes ascending, glandular-pubescent.

Flowers

calyx lobes lanceolate, 4.8–6.2 × 1.2–1.9 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla blue to violet, with reddish violet nectar guides, bilabiate, tubular-funnelform, 15–20(–22) mm, sparsely white-lanate or glabrous internally abaxially, tube 4–6 mm, throat gradually inflated, not constricted at orifice, 4–7 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, navicular, 1.1–1.4 mm, dehiscing completely, sutures papillate;

staminode 7–9 mm, included or reaching orifice, 0.3–0.5 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, distal 4–5 mm sparsely pubescent, hairs yellow, to 0.8 mm;

style 10–12 mm.

calyx lobes ovate, 2.8–4.8 × 0.9–1.8 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla blue to light blue or violet, with reddish purple nectar guides, funnelform, 13–20 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, sparsely white-villous internally abaxially, tube 4–5 mm, throat gradually inflated, 4–5 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

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

staminode 8–9 mm, included, 0.2–0.3 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, distal 0.5–2 mm ± pilose, hairs golden yellow, to 0.8 mm;

style 9–11 mm.

Capsules

6–10 × 4–6 mm.

4–6 × 3–4 mm, glabrous.

2n

= 16.

Penstemon moffatii

Penstemon albertinus

Phenology Flowering Apr–Jun. Flowering May–Aug.
Habitat Shale or gravelly mesas and slopes, sagebrush shrublands, pinyon-juniper woodlands. Gravelly slopes, cliffs, rocky clearings, roadcuts in coniferous forests.
Elevation 1300–2000 m. (4300–6600 ft.) 800–2800 m. (2600–9200 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CO; UT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
ID; MT; AB; BC
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Penstemon moffatii is known from Delta, Grand, Mesa, and Montrose counties, Colorado, and Garfield, Grand, and Wayne counties, Utah. Plants with oblanceolate basal leaves and sessile cauline leaves from Montrose County, Colorado, have been distinguished as subsp. paysonii. Plants with these characteristics are found sporadically throughout the range of P. moffatii, sometimes in populations with plants referable to subsp. moffatii.

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

Penstemon caelestinus has been treated as a synonym of P. albertinus (D. D. Keck 1945; A. Cronquist 1959). D. V. Clark (1971) grew these and related species in transplant gardens and considered P. caelestinus to be distinct based on flower color, leaf shape and color, phenology, and habitat. A broad zone of hybridization between P. albertinus and P. wilcoxii exists in east-central Idaho and western Montana, especially in habitats disturbed by humans (Clark).

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

Source FNA vol. 17, p. 140. FNA vol. 17, p. 190.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Cristati 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. leonardii, P. linarioides, P. longiflorus, P. lyallii, P. marcusii, P. mensarum, P. metcalfei, P. miser, 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. 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. 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
Synonyms P. moffatii subsp. paysonii P. caelestinus
Name authority Eastwood: Zoë 4: 9. (1893) — (as Pentstemon) Greene: Leafl. Bot. Observ. Crit. 1: 167. (1906) — (as Pentstemon)
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