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western white-flower penstemon, western whiteflower beardtongue, white flower penstemon, white-flower beardtongue

Amargosa beardtongue, Death Valley beardtongue, Death Valley penstemon

Habit Herbs. Shrubs or subshrubs.
Stems

ascending to erect, 15–40(–65) cm, glabrous, not glaucous.

ascending to erect, 30–60 cm, glaucous.

Leaves

basal and cauline, not leathery, glabrous;

basal and proximal cauline (23–)40–90(–120) × 6–14(–24) mm, blade spatulate to elliptic, base tapered, margins entire, apex rounded to obtuse or acute;

cauline 3–6 pairs, sessile or proximals short- to long-petiolate, 24–115 × 4–15 mm, blade oblanceolate to lanceolate, base tapered to truncate or clasping, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute.

cauline 6–12 pairs, sessile or short-petiolate, (12–)25–65 × 2–8 mm, blade lanceolate to linear, sometimes oblanceolate, base truncate or tapered, margins entire, rarely ± serrulate distally, apex obtuse to acute.

Thyrses

interrupted, cylindric, 6–15 cm, axis glabrous, verticillasters 2–6, cymes 3–11-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, 8–50 × 1–8 mm, margins entire;

peduncles and pedicels erect, glabrous.

interrupted, cylindric, 8–30 cm, axis glabrous, verticillasters 3–8, cymes 1–3-flowered;

proximal bracts lanceolate to linear, 9–28 × 2–5 mm;

peduncles and pedicels spreading to ascending, glabrous.

Flowers

calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 3–5.5 × 1.2–2.1 mm, apex acute to short-caudate, glabrous;

corolla white or lavender, without nectar guides, funnelform, 10–15 mm, glabrous externally, moderately yellow- or white-lanate internally abaxially, tube 4–5 mm, throat slightly inflated, 3–4 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens: longer pair reaching orifice or slightly exserted, pollen sacs opposite, navicular, 0.6–0.8 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures smooth;

staminode 6–7 mm, included, 0.3–0.4 mm diam., tip straight, distal 0.5–3 mm moderately pilose, hairs yellow, to 0.8 mm, rarely glabrous;

style 7–8 mm.

calyx lobes depressed-ovate to round or ovate, 3.5–6.5 × 2.5–5 mm, glabrous;

corolla bluish lavender to lavender or light pink, with reddish purple nectar guides, strongly bilabiate, ventricose-ampliate, 22–28 mm, glabrous or glandular-pubescent externally, moderately to densely white-lanate internally abaxially, sometimes also sparsely to densely glandular-pubescent internally, tube 6–8 mm, length 1–1.5 times calyx lobes, throat abruptly inflated, constricted at orifice, 8–14 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included, filaments of shorter pair glandular-puberulent proximally, pollen sacs explanate to subexplanate, 1.6–2.2 mm, sutures smooth;

staminode 15–19 mm, exserted, 0.6–0.8 mm diam., tip recurved, distal 8–9 mm moderately pilose to lanate, hairs yellow, to 2.5 mm;

proximal 5–6 mm glandular-pubescent;

style 19–24 mm, glabrous.

Capsules

4–7 × 3–4 mm, glabrous.

9–13 × 5–7 mm, glabrous.

2n

= 32.

= 16.

Penstemon pratensis

Penstemon fruticiformis

Phenology Flowering Jun–Jul.
Habitat Moist meadows, stream banks, aspen woodlands.
Elevation 1300–2800 m. (4300–9200 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
ID; NV; OR
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA; NV
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Penstemon pratensis is known from the northern Central Great Basin and Owyhee Desert regions of the northern Great Basin. The species is documented in Owyhee County, Idaho, Elko and Eureka counties, Nevada, and Harney and Malheur counties, Oregon. In Elko County, Nevada, where it occurs with P. rydbergii var. oreocharis, P. pratensis appears to occur mostly in the East Humboldt Range and Ruby Mountains, south and east of the Humboldt River. Most populations of P. rydbergii var. oreocharis in that county occur north and west of the Humboldt River in the Independence and Jarbidge mountains.

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

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Penstemon fruticiformis is known from the Mojave Desert. Specimens from the Kingston Range and the eastern flank of the southern Sierra Nevada sometimes combine features of P. fruticiformis and P. incertus.

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

Key
1. Corollas glabrous externally; calyx lobes depressed-ovate to round or ovate, 3.5–5 × 3.2–5 mm.
var. fruticiformis
1. Corollas ± glandular-pubescent externally; calyx lobes ovate, 4.5–6.5 × 2.5–4 mm.
var. amargosae
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 215. FNA vol. 17, p. 250.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Penstemon Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Spectabiles
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. pennellianus, P. perpulcher, P. personatus, P. petiolatus, P. pinifolius, P. pinorum, P. platyphyllus, 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. 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. fruticiformis var. amargosae, P. fruticiformis var. fruticiformis
Name authority Greene: Leafl. Bot. Observ. Crit. 1: 165. (1906) — (as Pentstemon) Coville: Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 4: 170. (1893) — (as Pentstemon)
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