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eastern white beardtongue, pale beardtongue, pale penstemon

New Mexico beardtongue

Habit Herbs.
Stems

ascending to erect, 25–55(–65) cm, retrorsely hairy and glandular-villous proximally, retrorsely hairy and glandular-pubescent distally, glandular hairs sometimes sparse, not glaucous.

erect, sometimes ascending, 30–63 cm, glabrous, not glaucous.

Leaves

basal and cauline, basal often withering by anthesis, not leathery, sparsely to densely pubescent, sometimes also with scattered glandular hairs, abaxially, sparsely pubescent adaxially;

basal and proximal cauline 20–120(–180) × 5–35(–40) mm, blade spatulate to obovate or ovate, base tapered, margins subentire or ± serrate or dentate, apex rounded to obtuse or acute;

cauline 4–8 pairs, sessile, 22–100 × 4–24 mm, blade ovate to lanceolate, base truncate to clasping, margins subentire or ± serrate or dentate, apex acute to acuminate.

basal and cauline, or basal absent, not leathery, glabrous or retrorsely hairy, not glaucous;

basal and proximal cauline 30–90(–116) × 5–26 mm, blade oblanceolate, base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 6–12 pairs, sessile, 25–113 × 3–13 mm, blade lanceolate to linear, base tapered to truncate, apex obtuse to acute.

Thyrses

interrupted, conic, 5–26(–30) cm, axis sparsely to densely glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 3–8, cymes 2–8(–16)-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, 7–72 × 2–22 mm, margins entire or ± dentate;

peduncles and pedicels ascending, sparsely to densely glandular-pubescent.

continuous, sometimes interrupted, secund, 16–30 cm, axis glabrous, verticillasters 7–11, cymes 1–4-flowered, (1 or)2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate to linear, 10–72 × 1–12 mm;

peduncles and pedicels glabrous.

Flowers

calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, (2–)3–5 × 1–3 mm, sparsely glandular-pubescent;

corolla white, sometimes tinged lavender or blue, with reddish purple nectar guides, tubular to tubular-funnelform, 16–22 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, moderately whitish or yellowish lanate internally abaxially, tube 4–6 mm, throat slightly inflated, 4–7 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, navicular, (0.8–)1–1.2 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures papillate;

staminode 10–12 mm, exserted, 0.2–0.3 mm diam., tip straight to slightly recurved, distal 8–9 mm moderately to densely villous, hairs yellow or golden yellow, to 1.5 mm;

style 12–14 mm.

calyx lobes lanceolate to elliptic, 3–5 × 2–2.6 mm, glabrous;

corolla lavender to violet, with reddish purple nectar guides, ventricose, 26–34 mm, glabrous externally, sparsely to densely white-villous internally abaxially, tube 7–8 mm, throat gradually to abruptly inflated, not constricted at orifice, 7–10 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens: longer pair exserted, pollen sacs opposite, navicular, 1.4–1.9 mm, dehiscing completely, sides glabrous, sutures smooth or papillate;

staminode 14–16 mm, reaching orifice or exserted, 1–1.2 mm diam., tip straight, glabrous;

style 14–18 mm.

Capsules

5–7 × 3–5 mm, glabrous.

9–14 × 5–6 mm.

2n

= 16.

= 16.

Penstemon pallidus

Penstemon neomexicanus

Phenology Flowering Apr–Jun(–Jul). Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat Tallgrass prairie, limestone and sandstone glades, barrens, rocky oak-hickory woodlands. Slopes and clearings in pine, pine-spruce, and spruce-fir forests.
Elevation 10–300 m. (0–1000 ft.) 1800–2700 m. (5900–8900 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AL; AR; CT; DC; GA; IA; IL; IN; KS; KY; MA; MD; ME; MI; MN; MO; NC; NH; NJ; NY; OH; PA; RI; TN; VA; VT; WI; WV; ON
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
NM; Mexico (Chihuahua)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Penstemon pallidus is concentrated in the Central Lowlands and Ozark Plateau of the central United States. F. W. Pennell (1935) believed it to be native there, having spread eastward as a result of human activities, as in Ontario.

Penstemon brevisepalus, which has been synonymized with P. pallidus by many authors, is treated here as a distinct species. Characters distinguishing the species are discussed under 147. P. brevisepalus.

Some specimens from north-central Arkansas and north-central Missouri are morphologically intermediate between Penstemon pallidus and P. arkansanus.

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

Penstemon neomexicanus is known from the Capitan, Sacramento, and White mountains in Lincoln and Otero counties. The species is also known from a single historic collection from near Colonia Garcia, Chihuahua. G. T. Nisbet and R. C. Jackson (1960) suggested that some plants from northern Lincoln and southern Torrance counties might be hybrids between P. neomexicanus and P. virgatus. Specimens from the vicinity of the Gallinas Mountains are referred here to P. neomexicanus.

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

Source FNA vol. 17, p. 214. FNA vol. 17, p. 173.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Penstemon Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Glabri
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. 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. 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. 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
Name authority Small: Fl. S.E. U.S., 1060, 1337. (1903) — (as Pentstemon) Wooton & Standley: Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 16: 172. (1913) — (as Pentstemon)
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