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Moffat's beardtongue, Moffatt's beardtongue

Blue Ridge beardtongue, Small's beardtongue

Habit Herbs.
Stems

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

ascending to erect, 35–80 cm, puberulent or retrorsely hairy proximally, retrorsely hairy and sparsely glandular-pubescent distally, not glaucous.

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, basal sometimes withering by anthesis, not leathery, glabrous or puberulent along midveins and, sometimes, on proximal parts of blade;

basal and proximal cauline 55–170 × 15–60 mm, blade triangular-ovate to cordate or lanceolate, base tapered, margins crenate to sharply serrate, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 4–6 pairs, sessile, 66–105 × 12–48 mm, blade ovate to lanceolate, proximals sometimes lyrate, base truncate to broadly clasping, margins crenate to sharply serrate, apex 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.

interrupted, narrowly conic, (6–)10–28 cm, axis puberulent and glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 4–7, cymes (3–)5–12-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, 56–130 × 23–55 mm, margins sharply serrate;

peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, puberulent and 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 to lanceolate, 3.5–5 × 1.2–2.1 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla lavender to violet or purple, with violet nectar guides, funnelform to ventricose-ampliate, 28–35 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, moderately white-lanate internally abaxially, tube 7–8 mm, throat abruptly inflated, 9–16 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, navicular, 1.3–1.5 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures papillate;

staminode 15–18 mm, included, 0.4–0.6 mm diam., tip straight, distal 13–15 mm ± pilose, hairs yellow, to 2 mm;

style 17–20 mm.

Capsules

6–10 × 4–6 mm.

7–10 × 4–5 mm, glabrous.

2n

= 16.

Penstemon moffatii

Penstemon smallii

Phenology Flowering Apr–Jun. Flowering Apr–Jul.
Habitat Shale or gravelly mesas and slopes, sagebrush shrublands, pinyon-juniper woodlands. Rocky slopes, bluffs, cliffs.
Elevation 1300–2000 m. (4300–6600 ft.) 200–1200 m. (700–3900 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CO; UT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AL; GA; NC; SC; TN
[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 smallii is known from the southern Appalachians. Foliose inflorescence bracts, truncate or cordate cauline leaf bases, and lavender to purple corollas distinguish it from other eastern penstemons.

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

Source FNA vol. 17, p. 140. FNA vol. 17, p. 222.
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. 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. 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. 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
Name authority Eastwood: Zoë 4: 9. (1893) — (as Pentstemon) A. Heller: Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 21: 25. (1894) — (as Pentstemon)
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