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Peck's beardtongue, Peck's penstemon

foxglove beard-tongue, penstémon digitale, tall white beardtongue, talus slope penstemon

Habit Herbs. Herbs.
Stems

ascending to erect, 20–50(–65) cm, glabrous or retrorsely hairy, not glaucous.

erect, 25–90 cm, glabrous or sparsely retrorsely hairy, slightly glaucous or not.

Leaves

basal and cauline, basal often poorly developed, not leathery, glabrous;

basal and proximal cauline 20–75 × 2–5(–7) mm, blade narrowly elliptic to linear, base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 5–8 pairs, sessile or proximals long-petiolate, 15–75 × 2–8 mm, blade lanceolate to linear, base tapered, margins entire, apex acute.

basal and cauline, basal sometimes withering by anthesis, not leathery, glabrous;

basal and proximal cauline 30–180(–250) × 4–38(–70) mm, blade spatulate to obovate or lanceolate, base tapered, margins entire or ± serrate or denticulate, apex rounded to obtuse or acute;

cauline 5–8 pairs, petiolate or sessile, 26–195 × 4–55 mm, blade ovate to lanceolate, base tapered to clasping, margins entire or denticulate, apex acuminate to acute.

Thyrses

interrupted or continuous, cylindric, 3–25 cm, axis glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 2–6(–10), cymes 1–7-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, 6–55 × 1–8 mm, margins entire;

peduncles and pedicels erect, glandular-pubescent.

interrupted, conic, 7–26(–34) cm, axis glabrous proximally, sparsely to densely glandular-pubescent distally, verticillasters (2 or)3–6, cymes (3–)5–12(–18)-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate to linear, 9–105 × 1–40 mm, margins entire, sometimes serrulate;

peduncles and pedicels spreading to ascending, sparsely glandular-pubescent.

Flowers

calyx lobes obovate to ovate or lanceolate, 1.5–3 × 0.7–1.5 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla violet to light blue, pink, or light purple, with or without pink or purple nectar guides, tubular to tubular-funnelform, 8–10 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, moderately yellow-pilose internally abaxially, tube 3–4 mm, throat slightly inflated, 2–3 mm diam., slightly 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, navicular to subexplanate, 0.4–0.5 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures smooth;

staminode 4–6 mm, included, 0.3–0.4 mm diam., tip straight, distal 0.3–0.5 mm sparsely pilose, hairs yellow, to 0.4 mm;

style 7–8 mm.

calyx lobes ovate, sometimes lanceolate, 4–8 × 2–3 mm, apex acute to acuminate, glandular-pubescent;

corolla white, sometimes tinged lavender, with reddish purple nectar guides, ventricose, (17–)20–30 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, sparsely to moderately white-pubescent internally abaxially, tube 6–9 mm, throat abruptly inflated, 8–12 mm diam., slightly 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included or longer pair reaching orifice, pollen sacs opposite, navicular, 1.4–1.7 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides sparsely pubescent, hairs white or purplish, to 0.6 mm, rarely glabrous, sutures papillate;

staminode 13–17 mm, reaching orifice, 0.3–0.4 mm diam., tip straight to slightly recurved, distal 6–8 mm sparsely to moderately villous, hairs yellowish, to 1.5(–2) mm;

style 13–18 mm.

Capsules

3.5–5 × 2–3 mm, glabrous.

8–14 × 4–6 mm, glabrous.

2n

= 32.

= 96.

Penstemon peckii

Penstemon digitalis

Phenology Flowering Jun–Aug. Flowering Apr–Jul.
Habitat Dry, sandy, volcanic soils, pine forests. Prairies, meadows, roadsides, clearings in woods.
Elevation 900–1500 m. (3000–4900 ft.) 10–500 m. (0–1600 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
OR
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AL; AR; CT; DC; DE; IA; IL; IN; KS; KY; LA; MA; MD; ME; MI; MN; MO; MS; NC; NE; NH; NJ; NY; OH; OK; PA; RI; SC; SD; TN; TX; VA; VT; WI; WV; NB; NS; ON; QC
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Penstemon peckii is known from the eastern slope of the Cascade Range in Crook, Deschutes, Hood River, and Jefferson counties.

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

Penstemon digitalis appears to be native in the central Mississippi River Basin, with human activities expanding its range, particularly eastward (F. W. Pennell 1935). It is listed in VASCAN as introduced in the four Canadian provinces where it occurs (http://data.canadensys.net/vascan/taxon/7273).

Plants resembling Penstemon digitalis but with smaller corollas (17–23 mm versus 23–30 mm), less glandular-pubescent inflorescences, less scarious-margined calyx lobes, and stems sometimes puberulent (versus glabrous) have been named P. alluviorum. Plants with those features come mostly from the southeastern Central Lowlands and north-central Coastal Plain provinces in the eastern United States in the south-central part of the range of P. digitalis (Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee). A. C. Koelling (1964) observed overlap in characters used to distinguish P. alluviorum from P. digitalis and concluded it was a small-flowered variant of P. digitalis.

Specimens of Penstemon digitalis with lanceolate and acuminate-tipped calyx lobes can be mistaken for P. calycosus, but calyx lobe length and, usually, the presence of hairs on the pollen sacs allow them to be accurately identified.

Penstemon digitalis is widely cultivated and spreads readily. R. R. Clinebell and P. Bernhardt (1998) found evidence that plants are self-compatible.

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

Source FNA vol. 17, p. 215. FNA vol. 17, p. 202.
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. pallidus, P. palmeri, P. papillatus, P. parryi, P. parvulus, P. parvus, P. patens, P. payettensis, P. paysoniorum, 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. 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
Synonyms P. alluviorum
Name authority Pennell: Notul. Nat. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 71: 12. (1941) Nuttall ex Sims: Bot. Mag. 52: plate 2587. (1825) — (as Pentstemon)
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