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eastern white beardtongue, pale beardtongue, pale penstemon

Berry's penstemon, mountain pride, Newberry's beardtongue

Habit Herbs. Subshrubs, cespitose.
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.

ascending to erect, (5–)10–32 cm, glabrous or retrorsely hairy, 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.

persistent, 4–9 pairs, distals distinctly to slightly smaller than proximals, short-petiolate or sessile, (5–)9–42 × 4–14(–18) mm, blade elliptic to obovate, base tapered, cuneate, or cordate-clasping, margins ± serrulate or serrulate-denticulate to serrate, apex rounded to obtuse or acute, glabrous, glaucous.

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, ± secund, 2–20 cm, axis glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 4–12, cymes 1-flowered;

proximal bracts ovate to lanceolate, 4–11(–20) × 2–8(–15) mm;

peduncles and pedicels ascending, glandular-pubescent.

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, 6–10 × 2–2.5 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla pink, red, scarlet, lavender, or purple, essentially unlined internally but abaxial ridges sometimes pink to whitish, not personate, funnelform, 22–35 mm, glabrous externally, moderately to densely white-lanate internally abaxially, tube 6–9 mm, throat 5–12 mm diam.;

stamens included or longer pair exserted, pollen sacs 0.8–1.7 mm;

staminode 8–14 mm, slightly flattened distally, 0.1–0.3 mm diam., tip straight, distal 2–8 mm pubescent to lanate, hairs white or yellowish, to 1 mm;

style 20–24 mm.

Capsules

5–7 × 3–5 mm, glabrous.

(8–)10–13 × (4–)5–8 mm.

2n

= 16.

Penstemon pallidus

Penstemon newberryi

Phenology Flowering Apr–Jun(–Jul).
Habitat Tallgrass prairie, limestone and sandstone glades, barrens, rocky oak-hickory woodlands.
Elevation 10–300 m. (0–1000 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
CA; NV; OR
[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.)

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

Penstemon newberryi is known from the Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges of California, Nevada, and Oregon.

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

Key
1. Corollas pink to lavender or purple, 27–35 mm; stamens included, pollen sacs 1.2–1.7 mm.
var. berryi
1. Corollas red, scarlet, or purple, 22–30 mm; stamens: longer pair exserted, pollen sacs 0.8–1.3 mm.
→ 2
2. Corollas red to scarlet; distal leaves distinctly smaller than proximals.
var. newberryi
2. Corollas purple; distal leaves slightly smaller than proximals.
var. sonomensis
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 214. FNA vol. 17, p. 90.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Penstemon Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Dasanthera > sect. Erianthera
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. neomexicanus, P. neotericus, 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. newberryi var. berryi, P. newberryi var. newberryi, P. newberryi var. sonomensis
Name authority Small: Fl. S.E. U.S., 1060, 1337. (1903) — (as Pentstemon) A. Gray: in War Department [U.S.], Pacif. Railr. Rep. 6(3): 82, plate 14. (1858) — (as Pentstemon)
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