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Palmer's beardtongue, Palmer's penstemon, scented beardtongue, scented penstemon

sulphur penstemon, taper-leaf beardtongue, taper-leaf penstemon

Habit Herbs. Herbs.
Stems

ascending to erect, 43–140 cm, glaucous.

ascending to erect, (2–)5–70(–90) cm, glabrous or retrorsely hairy, not glaucous.

Leaves

basal and proximal cauline (28–)52–120(–145) × (5–)25–50(–60) mm, blade ovate, base tapered, margins coarsely dentate, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 5–8 pairs, sessile or connate-perfoliate, 25–130 × 7–45 mm, blade ovate to triangular, base of distals auriculate-clasping or connate-perfoliate, margins coarsely dentate, distals sometimes entire, apex acute.

basal and cauline, not leathery, glabrous or puberulent;

basal and proximal cauline (30–)55–90(–150) × 5–20(–40) mm, blade spatulate to obovate or elliptic, base tapered, margins entire, rarely denticulate, apex rounded to obtuse or acute;

cauline 2–5(–7) pairs, sessile or proximals short- to long-petiolate, 15–90(–130) × 2–25(–38) mm, blade usually lanceolate, proximals sometimes oblanceolate, base tapered to clasping, margins entire, rarely serrate or dentate, apex acute, sometimes obtuse.

Thyrses

interrupted, rarely continuous, secund, 7–63 cm, axis glabrous or glandular-pubescent, verticillasters (4–)7–17, cymes (1 or)2–5-flowered;

proximal bracts ovate to lanceolate, 8–40 × 4–38 mm;

peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, glabrous or glandular-pubescent.

interrupted, cylindric, 3–27 cm, axis moderately glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 2–7, cymes (1 or)2–8-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, 15–55(–80) × 2–15(–28) mm, margins entire or ± serrate to dentate;

peduncles and pedicels erect, glandular-pubescent.

Flowers

calyx lobes ovate, (3.4–)4.2–6(–7.5) × 1.9–3.6 mm, glabrous or glandular-pubescent;

corolla pale pink to white or pinkish lavender, with reddish purple nectar guides, strongly bilabiate, ventricose-ampliate, 25–38 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, glandular-pubescent internally, sometimes also sparsely white-lanate abaxially, tube 4–8 mm, length 1–1.4 times calyx lobes, throat abruptly inflated, constricted at orifice, 12–21 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens included or longer pair reaching orifice, filaments of shorter pair glandular-puberulent proximally, pollen sacs navicular, 1.6–2.4 mm, sutures smooth;

staminode 25–30 mm, exserted, 0.9–1.1 mm diam., tip strongly recurved to coiled, distal 8–10 mm, and especially tip, moderately to densely lanate, hairs yellow, to 3.5 mm, proximal 6–8 mm glandular-puberulent;

style 19–23 mm, glabrous or sparsely glandular-pubescent proximally.

calyx lobes ovate to obovate, ovate-oblong, or lanceolate, 3.2–7.5 × 0.9–2.6 mm, margins erose or lacerate, apex acuminate to short-caudate or long-acuminate, glandular-pubescent;

corolla light blue to violet, bluish purple, or pinkish blue, rarely light yellow or whitish, with reddish purple nectar guides, tubular-funnelform, 7–20 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, moderately white-lanate internally abaxially, tube 4–5 mm, throat slightly inflated, 3–5(–6) mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, navicular to slightly saccate, 0.6–1.2 mm, dehiscing completely or incompletely, distal 1/5 or less sometimes indehiscent, connective splitting or not, sides glabrous, sutures smooth or papillate;

staminode 7–9 mm, reaching orifice or slightly exserted, 0.3–0.4 mm diam., tip straight to slightly recurved, distal 1–3 mm ± pilose, hairs yellow, to 1.2 mm;

style 8–12 mm.

Capsules

11–16 × 6–8 mm, sparsely glandular-pubescent distally.

4–8 × 2–5 mm, glabrous.

2n

= 48.

Penstemon palmeri

Penstemon attenuatus

Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; CO; ID; NM; NV; UT; WA; WY
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
ID; MT; OR; WA; WY
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

Penstemon ×bryantiae D. D. Keck, a hybrid between P. palmeri and P. spectabilis, was described based on plants that volunteered in the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden in 1935 (D. D. Keck 1937b). Penstemon ×mirus A. Nelson, a putative hybrid between P. eatonii and P. palmeri, has been reported from Arizona (A. Nelson 1938).

A poultice prepared from Penstemon palmeri is applied to snakebites by the Kayenta Navajo of northeastern Arizona (D. E. Moerman 1998).

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

Varieties 4 (4 in the flora).

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

Key
1. Corolla tubes 7–8 mm; distal cauline leaves sessile, sometimes connate-perfoliate.
var. macranthus
1. Corolla tubes 4–6 mm; distal cauline leaves connate-perfoliate.
→ 2
2. Peduncles, pedicels, and calyx lobes glandular-pubescent; pollen sacs 1.8–2.4 mm.
var. palmeri
2. Peduncles, pedicels, and calyx lobes glabrous; pollen sacs 1.6–2(–2.2) mm.
var. eglandulosus
1. Pollen sacs dehiscing incompletely, distal 1/5 or less usually indehiscent, connectives not splitting, sutures papillate.
var. militaris
1. Pollen sacs dehiscing completely, connectives splitting, sutures smooth, sometimes ± papillate.
→ 2
2. Corollas 7–12 mm; calyx lobes lanceolate.
var. palustris
2. Corollas 12–20 mm; calyx lobes ovate, obovate, ovate-oblong, or lanceolate.
→ 3
3. Stems (22–)30–70(–90) cm; corollas light blue to violet, rarely light yellow or whitish, 14–20 mm; calyx lobe margins erose.
var. attenuatus
3. Stems (2–)5–40 cm; corollas bluish purple, 12–16 mm; calyx lobe margins erose or lacerate.
var. pseudoprocerus
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 252. FNA vol. 17, p. 193.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Spectabiles 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. pallidus, 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. 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. 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. palmeri var. eglandulosus, P. palmeri var. macranthus, P. palmeri var. palmeri
P. attenuatus var. attenuatus, P. attenuatus var. militaris, P. attenuatus var. palustris, P. attenuatus var. pseudoprocerus
Name authority A. Gray: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 7: 379. (1868) — (as Pentstemon) Douglas ex Lindley: Edwards’s Bot. Reg. 15: plate 1295. (1830) — (as Pentstemon attenuatum)
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