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

desert penstemon, Mojave beardtongue

Penstemon pennellianus

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

Habit Herbs.
Stems

ascending to erect, (30–)60–100 cm, slightly glaucous or not.

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

Leaves

basal and proximal cauline 20–165 × 12–50 mm, blade ovate to lanceolate, base tapered, margins finely to coarsely dentate, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 4–7 pairs, sessile or proximals short-petiolate, 45–90 × 22–76 mm, blade ovate to triangular, base tapered or sessile on proximals, auriculate-clasping to connate-perfoliate on distal ones, margins finely to coarsely dentate, apex acute.

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.

Thyrses

interrupted or continuous, secund, (6–)12–48 cm, axis glabrous, verticillasters 4–13, cymes 1–3(–6)-flowered;

proximal bracts ovate (connate-perfoliate) or lanceolate (auriculate-clasping), (9–)16–55 × 10–60 mm;

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

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.

Flowers

calyx lobes ovate, 3–5.5 × 2–3.2 mm, glabrous or glandular-pubescent;

corolla rose pink, with reddish purple nectar guides, strongly bilabiate, ventricose, (18–)25–34 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, glandular-pubescent internally, tube 6–9 mm, length 1.6–2 times calyx lobes, throat gradually inflated, ± constricted at orifice, 7–10 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens: longer pair reaching orifice, filaments of shorter pair glandular-puberulent proximally, pollen sacs explanate, 1.5–2 mm, sutures smooth;

staminode 11–17 mm, included, 0.2–0.4 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, glabrous or distal 1–2 mm sparsely to moderately lanate, hairs yellow, to 1 mm;

style 20–25 mm, glabrous.

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.

Capsules

7–12 × 4–6 mm, glabrous.

10–13 × 8–10 mm.

Penstemon pseudospectabilis

Penstemon pennellianus

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

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Two varieties, distinguished on the basis of inflorescence indument, are largely allopatric. Penstemon ×crideri A. Nelson, a putative hybrid between P. eatonii and P. pseudospectabilis, has been reported from Arizona (A. Nelson 1936).

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

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.)

Key
1. Peduncles, pedicels, and calyx lobes glandular-pubescent.
var. pseudospectabilis
1. Peduncles, pedicels, and calyx lobes glabrous.
var. connatifolius
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 253. FNA vol. 17, p. 176.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Spectabiles 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. pennellianus, P. perpulcher, P. personatus, P. petiolatus, P. pinifolius, P. pinorum, P. platyphyllus, P. pratensis, P. procerus, P. pruinosus, P. pseudoputus, 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. 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
Subordinate taxa
P. pseudospectabilis var. connatifolius, P. pseudospectabilis var. pseudospectabilis
Name authority M. E. Jones: Contr. W. Bot. 12: 66. (1908) — (as Pentstemon) D. D. Keck: Amer. Midl. Naturalist 23: 614. (1940)
Web links