The green links below add additional plants to the comparison table. Blue links lead to other Web sites.
enable glossary links

desert penstemon, Parry's beardtongue

high mountain penstemon, tall yellow beardtongue

Habit Herbs.
Stems

ascending to erect, 30–120(–160) cm, glaucous.

erect, (6–)10–40 cm, glabrous or puberulent, not glaucous.

Leaves

glabrous, glaucous;

basal and proximal cauline 36–125 × 8–25 mm, blade spatulate to oblanceolate or elliptic, base tapered, margins entire, rarely remotely and obscurely dentate, apex rounded to obtuse or acute;

cauline 2–5 pairs, sessile, 23–130 × 5–25 mm, blade lanceolate to oblong, base clasping to auriculate-clasping, margins entire, rarely remotely and obscurely dentate, apex obtuse to acute.

basal and cauline, ± leathery or not, glabrous;

basal and proximal cauline (12–)25–115 × (4–)7–22 mm, blade oblanceolate to lanceolate or elliptic, base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 2–4 pairs, sessile, 18–65 × 3–16 mm, blade oblanceolate to lanceolate, sometimes ovate, base tapered to clasping, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute.

Thyrses

interrupted, cylindric, (4–)10–60 cm, axis glabrous, verticillasters (2–)5–16, cymes 2–7-flowered;

proximal bracts lanceolate, (8–)13–55 × 2–8 mm;

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

continuous or interrupted, cylindric, 1–12 cm, axis ± puberulent, rarely glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 1–4, cymes 2–10-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, sometimes ovate, 12–44 × 2–13 mm, margins entire;

peduncles and pedicels erect, glabrous or ± puberulent, rarely glandular-pubescent.

Flowers

calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 3–4.6 × 1.2–2 mm, apex acute to short-acuminate, glabrous or sparsely glandular-pubescent;

corolla rose pink to rose magenta, with reddish purple nectar guides, bilaterally symmetric, bilabiate, ventricose, 13–22 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, white-pilose and glandular-pubescent internally abaxially, tube 3–7 mm, throat gradually inflated, 5–7 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs explanate, 1.1–1.4 mm, sutures smooth;

staminode 10–12 mm, flattened distally, 0.7–1(–2.5) mm diam., tip straight, distal 4–5 mm retrorsely hairy, hairs yellow or whitish, to 1 mm;

style 13–15 mm.

calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 5–9 × 1.8–2.7 mm, glabrous, rarely glandular-pubescent;

corolla light yellow, without nectar guides, funnelform, 12–16 mm, glabrous externally, rarely glandular-pubescent, sparsely to moderately yellow-pubescent internally abaxially, tube 5–7 mm, throat gradually inflated, 4–6 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included or longer pair reaching orifice, pollen sacs opposite, navicular to subexplanate, 0.7–0.9 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures smooth;

staminode 8–9 mm, included, 0.4–0.7 mm diam., tip straight to slightly recurved, distal 2–3 mm moderately pilose, hairs yellow or golden yellow, to 0.8 mm;

style 8–11 mm.

Capsules

7–9 × 4–5 mm.

5–8 × 4–5 mm, glabrous.

2n

= 16.

= 48.

Penstemon parryi

Penstemon flavescens

Phenology Flowering (Feb–)Mar–May. Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat Rocky hillsides, washes, canyons, oak scrub and deserts. Open or wooded, rocky slopes.
Elevation 200–1500 m. (700–4900 ft.) 1800–2500 m. (5900–8200 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; Mexico (Sonora)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
ID; MT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Penstemon parryi is known from the scattered desert mountain ranges of southern Arizona in Cochise, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, and Yavapai counties. The species resembles P. superbus; it is distinguished by its narrow leaves and corollas that are rose pink or rose magenta, more bilaterally symmetric, and white-pilose abaxially in the throats.

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

Penstemon flavescens is known from the Bitterroot Mountains in east-central Idaho (Clearwater, Idaho, and Shoshone counties) and southwestern Montana (Ravalli County). A yellow-flowered, glandular-pubescent hexaploid from near Hoodoo Pass in Shoshone County, Idaho, might be a hybrid between P. attenuatus and P. flavescens (D. V. Clark 1971). Reports of P. flavescens from Oregon might be based on whitish or yellowish flowered forms of P. attenuatus var. attenuatus (D. D. Keck 1945).

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

Source FNA vol. 17, p. 153. FNA vol. 17, p. 203.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Gentianoides 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. palmeri, P. papillatus, 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. 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
Synonyms P. puniceus var. parryi
Name authority (A. Gray) A. Gray: in A. Gray et al., Syn. Fl. N. Amer. 2(1): 264. (1878) — (as Pentstemon) Pennell: Notul. Nat. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 95: 4. (1942)
Web links