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eastern white beardtongue, pale beardtongue, pale penstemon

Wallowa beardtongue, Wallowa penstemon

Habit Herbs. 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.

ascending to erect, 6–26 cm, retrorsely hairy or glabrate, 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, ± leathery or not, glabrous or puberulent proximally on petiole and along midvein abaxially;

basal and proximal cauline 10–60 × 3–18 mm, blade spatulate to elliptic, base tapered, margins entire, sometimes ± serrulate distally, apex rounded to obtuse or acute;

cauline 1–3 pairs, sessile, 14–35 × 2–8 mm, blade lanceolate, sometimes oblanceolate, base truncate, margins entire, rarely ± serrulate distally, 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.

interrupted, cylindric, 1–13 cm, axis moderately glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 1–5, cymes 2–5-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, 8–30 × 2–7 mm, margins entire;

peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, 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 ovate to lanceolate, 2.6–4.8 × 1–1.8 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla light blue to light purple, with violet nectar guides, funnelform, 10–14 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, moderately white- or yellowish lanate internally abaxially, tube 4–5 mm, throat slightly inflated, 3.5–4.5 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, navicular to subexplanate, 0.6–0.8 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures papillate;

staminode 6–7 mm, included, 0.3–0.4 mm diam., tip recurved, distal 0.5–1.5 mm densely pilose, hairs yellow, to 0.7 mm;

style 8–10 mm.

Capsules

5–7 × 3–5 mm, glabrous.

4–6 × 2.5–4 mm, glabrous.

2n

= 16.

Penstemon pallidus

Penstemon spatulatus

Phenology Flowering Apr–Jun(–Jul). Flowering Jul–Aug.
Habitat Tallgrass prairie, limestone and sandstone glades, barrens, rocky oak-hickory woodlands. Open rocky slopes, meadows.
Elevation 10–300 m. (0–1000 ft.) 2300–2500 m. (7500–8200 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
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.)

Penstemon spatulatus is known only from the Strawberry and Wallowa mountains of northeastern Oregon.

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

Source FNA vol. 17, p. 214. FNA vol. 17, p. 222.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Penstemon 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. 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. 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. 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) Pennell: Notul. Nat. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 71: 10. (1941)
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