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Penstemon rattanii

Rattan's beardtongue, Rattan's penstemon

mesa penstemon, tiger beardtongue, tiger or Grand Mesa beardtongue

Habit Herbs.
Stems

ascending to erect, (15–)30–120 cm, glabrous, sometimes glabrous proximally, glandular-pubescent distally, not glaucous.

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

Leaves

basal and cauline, not leathery, glabrous;

basal and proximal cauline 30–250 × 7–50 mm, blade elliptic to lanceolate, base tapered, margins serrate to dentate, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 2–5 pairs, short-petiolate or sessile, (10–)20–75(–110) × 5–30(–38) mm, blade oblong to triangular-ovate, base truncate to cordate-clasping distally, margins serrate to dentate, apex obtuse to acute.

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

basal and proximal cauline 28–145 × 4–30 mm, blade oblong to oblanceolate or elliptic, base tapered, margins entire, apex acute;

cauline 2–4(or 5) pairs, sessile, rarely short-petiolate, 20–135 × 4–31 mm, blade lanceolate, proximals sometimes oblanceolate, base tapered to cordate-clasping, apex acute to acuminate.

Thyrses

interrupted, cylindric, 2–24 cm, axis glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 2–7, cymes 3–11-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts triangular to lanceolate, 6–50 × 1–22 mm, margins entire or ± serrate;

peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, glandular-pubescent.

interrupted, secund, 10–56 cm, axis ± glandular-pubescent at least distally, verticillasters 4–12, cymes (1 or)2–6-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, 10–58 × 10–85 mm;

peduncles and pedicels glandular-pubescent, sometimes sparsely so.

Flowers

calyx lobes ovate to ovate-oblong or lanceolate, 4–10 × (1–)1.5–2.5 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla lavender to purple or violet, with reddish purple nectar guides, ventricose to ventricose-ampliate, 20–30 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, sparsely to densely white-lanate internally, tube 6–7 mm, throat abruptly inflated, 8–10 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, subexplanate, 1.2–1.5 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures smooth or papillate;

staminode 21–26 mm, exserted, 0.3–0.4 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, distal 6–10 mm sparsely to moderately lanate, hairs white or yellow, to 3 mm;

style 16–19 mm.

calyx lobes oblong-ovate, 3.5–5.8 × 1.2–2.1 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla blue to purple or violet, with faint reddish purple nectar guides, ventricose, 16–25 mm, ± glandular-pubescent externally, glabrous or sparsely glandular internally, tube 5–8 mm, throat gradually inflated, not constricted at orifice, 6–10 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs divergent to nearly opposite, navicular, 0.8–1.4 mm, dehiscing incompletely, connective not splitting, sides sparsely to moderately hispid, hairs white or yellowish, to 0.2 mm, sutures papillate or denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm;

staminode 9–11 mm, included, 0.4–0.5 mm diam., tip straight, distal 7–9 mm sparsely to moderately villous, hairs yellow, to 1 mm;

style 9–11 mm.

Capsules

5–9 × 3.5–5 mm, glabrous.

8–10 × 4–6 mm.

2n

= 16.

Penstemon rattanii

Penstemon mensarum

Phenology Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat Sagebrush shrublands, openings in aspen woodlands.
Elevation 2200–3000 m. (7200–9800 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; OR
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CO
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Penstemon rattanii comprises two morphologically distinct and geographically allopatric varieties confined to the Coast Range of California and Oregon.

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

Penstemon mensarum is known from Delta, Gunnison, Mesa, Montrose, and Pitkin counties.

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

Key
1. Calyx lobes usually longer than capsules, lanceolate, sometimes ovate, (5.5–)6.5–10 mm, apices acute to acuminate, sometimes obtuse; nw California, sw Oregon.
var. rattanii
1. Calyx lobes usually shorter than capsules, ovate-oblong, 4–7 mm, apices obtuse to acute; wc California.
var. kleei
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 219. FNA vol. 17, p. 172.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Penstemon 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. pseudospectabilis, P. pudicus, P. pumilus, P. purpusii, P. putus, P. radicosus, 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. 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. rattanii var. kleei, P. rattanii var. rattanii
Name authority A. Gray: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 15: 50. (1879) — (as Pentstemon rattani) Pennell: Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 20: 380. (1920)
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