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

Blue Mountain beardtongue, Blue Mountain penstemon, Blue Mountains beardtongue, Pennell's beardtongue, Pennell's penstemon

Charleston beardtongue, smoothleaf beardtongue, smoothleaf penstemon

Stems

ascending to erect, 18–85 cm, glabrous, not glaucous.

ascending to erect, 4–55(–80) cm, glabrous, not glaucous.

Leaves

basal and cauline, ± leathery or not, glabrous, not glaucous;

basal and proximal cauline 55–250 × 7–40 mm, blade lanceolate to elliptic, base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 3–5 pairs, short-petiolate or sessile, 40–83 × 10–36 mm, blade ovate to lanceolate, base tapered to clasping, apex obtuse to acute.

basal and cauline, not leathery, glabrous, not glaucous;

basal and proximal cauline (20–)30–100 × 4–15(–20) mm, blade oblanceolate, base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 2–7 pairs, sessile or proximals sometimes short-petiolate, 16–80 × 2–20 mm, blade lanceolate to linear, base tapered, apex obtuse to acute.

Thyrses

continuous, cylindric, 4–35 cm, axis glabrous, verticillasters 4–11, cymes 1–6-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts ovate to lanceolate, 22–85 × 11–35 mm;

peduncles and pedicels glabrous, peduncles to 20 mm, pedicels 1–6 mm.

interrupted or continuous, secund, (1–)3–30(–40) cm, axis glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 2–8(–12), cymes 1–3(or 4)-flowered, (1 or)2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, (6–)10–60 × (1–)3–24 mm;

peduncles and pedicels glandular-pubescent.

Flowers

calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, (5.3–)6.5–8.5 × 1.6–3 mm, apex acuminate to caudate, glabrous;

corolla blue to violet or purple, with reddish purple nectar guides, ventricose, 29–35 mm, glabrous externally, glabrous internally, tube 8–11 mm, throat gradually inflated, not constricted at orifice, 9–10 mm diam., slightly 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens: longer pair reaching orifice, pollen sacs divergent to opposite, sigmoid, 2–2.7 mm, dehiscing incompletely, proximal 1/5–1/3 indehiscent, connective not splitting, sides sparsely hirsute, hairs white or tan, to 0.1 mm, especially near connective, sometimes merely scurfy near connective, sutures denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm;

staminode 16–20 mm, reaching orifice, 0.5–1 mm diam., tip straight, distal 4–6 mm ± uniformly sparsely pilose, hairs yellow, to 1 mm;

style 20–24 mm.

calyx lobes lanceolate, (3.8–)4.5–8.5 × 1.6–3.8 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla violet to blue or purple, with violet or reddish purple nectar guides, ventricose, 18–35 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, glabrous or white-lanate internally abaxially, glandular-pubescent adaxially, tube 6–10 mm, throat gradually inflated, not constricted at orifice, 5–10 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens: longer pair reaching orifice, pollen sacs divergent to nearly opposite, navicular, 1.2–2 mm, dehiscing incompletely, proximal 1/5 indehiscent, connective not splitting, sides glabrous, sutures denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm;

staminode 10–14 mm, included, 0.4–0.5 mm diam., tip straight, distal 1–5 mm sparsely to densely pilose, hairs yellow or orangish yellow, to 1 mm;

style 12–19 mm.

Capsules

10–13 × 8–10 mm.

7–11 × 5–6 mm.

Penstemon pennellianus

Penstemon leiophyllus

Phenology Flowering May–Jun.
Habitat Rocky ridges, sandy to rocky slopes, coniferous forests.
Elevation 1300–1800 m. (4300–5900 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
OR; WA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
NV; UT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Penstemon pennellianus occurs primarily in the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon (Grant, Umatilla, Union, and Wallowa counties) and southeastern Washington (Asotin, Columbia, and Garfield counties).

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

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

F. S. Crosswhite (1967) recognized three species in the Penstemon leiophyllus complex: P. francisci-pennellii, P. keckii, and P. leiophyllus. N. H. Holmgren (1984) expanded P. leiophyllus to include the other species as varieties. The complex is unique in the section in having patches of glandular hairs on the internal, adaxial surfaces of the corolla throats. The varieties are essentially allopatric; characters distinguishing them are minor.

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

Key
1. Stems 15–55(–80) cm; cauline leaves 4–20 mm wide, blades lanceolate, usually flat and straight; corollas glabrous, rarely white-lanate, internally abaxially; Utah.
var. leiophyllus
1. Stems 4–25(–43) cm; cauline leaves 2–5(–10) mm wide, blades lanceolate to linear, usually folded lengthwise and curved; corollas white-lanate, rarely glabrous, internally abaxially; Nevada.
→ 2
2. Corollas (22–)25–35 mm; Lincoln, Nye, and White Pine counties, Nevada.
var. francisci-pennellii
2. Corollas 18–22 mm; Clark County, Nevada.
var. keckii
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 176. FNA vol. 17, p. 170.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Glabri Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Glabri
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. peckii, P. penlandii, 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. 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. leiophyllus var. francisci-pennellii, P. leiophyllus var. keckii, P. leiophyllus var. leiophyllus
Name authority D. D. Keck: Amer. Midl. Naturalist 23: 614. (1940) Pennell: Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 20: 346. (1920)
Web links