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eastern white beardtongue, pale beardtongue, pale penstemon

Germander 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.

prostrate or ascending, 2–10 cm, cinereous, retrorsely hairy, hairs pointed.

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.

not leathery, cinereous, densely retrorsely hairy, hairs pointed;

cauline 5–9 pairs, sessile, 4–14 × 0.5–1.4 mm, blade linear, base tapered, apex mucronate, sometimes acuminate.

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, cylindric, 3–15 cm, axis retrorsely hairy to retrorsely cinereous, hairs pointed, verticillasters 1–8, cymes 1 or 2(or 3)-flowered, 1 per node;

proximal bracts linear, 6–15 × 0.6–1.5 mm;

peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, retrorsely cinereous, hairs pointed, and, sometimes, sparsely 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, (3–)4–6 × 0.7–1 mm, narrowly scarious-margined, retrorsely hairy, hairs pointed, and sparsely glandular-pubescent;

corolla blue or violet, lined internally abaxially with reddish violet nectar guides, funnelform, 15–19 mm, sparsely white- or yellowish lanate internally abaxially, tube 6–7 mm, throat gradually inflated, 4–5.5 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens: longer pair reaching orifice, filaments glabrous, pollen sacs opposite, navicular to subexplanate, 0.7–1 mm, sutures papillate;

staminode 8–9 mm, included or reaching orifice, flattened distally, 0.2–0.3 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, distal 6–7 mm pilose, hairs yellowish orange, to 0.7 mm;

style 13–16 mm.

Capsules

5–7 × 3–5 mm, glabrous.

3.3–4.5 × 2.8–3.6 mm.

2n

= 16.

= 16.

Penstemon pallidus

Penstemon teucrioides

Phenology Flowering Apr–Jun(–Jul). Flowering May–Jul(–Aug).
Habitat Tallgrass prairie, limestone and sandstone glades, barrens, rocky oak-hickory woodlands. Silt or gravelly slopes in sagebrush shrublands.
Elevation 10–300 m. (0–1000 ft.) 2200–3400 m. (7200–11200 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
CO
[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 teucrioides is known from the Gunnison Basin. Populations have been documented in Chaffee, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Park, and Saguache counties. E. O. Wooton and P. C. Standley (1915) cited a specimen from Tierra Amarilla, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, which appears to be in error. Penstemon teucrioides is most likely confused with P. crandallii but can be distinguished reliably by its densely retrorsely hairy, cinereous leaves, narrowly scarious-margined calyx lobes, and 0.7–1 mm pollen sacs. Penstemon teucrioides also can be mistaken for P. caespitosus; the two species can be distinguished by the indument of stems and leaves.

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

Source FNA vol. 17, p. 214. FNA vol. 17, p. 106.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Penstemon Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Caespitosi
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. 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. 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) Greene: Pl. Baker. 3: 23. (1901) — (as Pentstemon)
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