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Penstemon rattanii

Rattan's beardtongue, Rattan's penstemon

Rocky Mountain beardtongue, Rocky Mountain penstemon

Habit Herbs.
Stems

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

ascending to erect, (20–)35–70(–90) cm, glabrous or ± puberulent proximally, rarely distinctly puberulent, not glaucous.

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, ± leathery or not, glabrous except for antrorsely-scabrous margins or ± puberulent proximally, rarely distinctly puberulent, not glaucous;

basal and proximal cauline (30–)50–150 × 5–16(–20) mm, blade oblanceolate, base tapered, margins entire, apex rounded to obtuse;

cauline 4–8 pairs, sessile, 40–100 × 2–7(–10) mm, blade lanceolate to linear, base tapered, apex 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 to ± continuous, secund, (3–)9–40 cm, axis glabrous, verticillasters 4–10(–13), cymes 1- or 2(–4)-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate to linear, 10–65 × 1–8 mm, apex acuminate;

peduncles and pedicels glabrous, peduncles to 27 mm, pedicels 1–20 mm.

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 ovate, (2.5–)3–5 × 1.3–2.5 mm, apex acute, sometimes acuminate or obtuse, glabrous;

corolla purple to violet or blue, with violet nectar guides, ventricose-ampliate, (18–)24–32 mm, glabrous externally, glabrous internally, tube 4–7 mm, throat gradually inflated, slightly constricted at orifice, 6–10(–12) mm diam., slightly 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens: longer pair slightly exserted, pollen sacs divergent to opposite, navicular-sigmoid, 1.7–2.4 mm, dehiscing incompletely, proximal 1/4 sometimes indehiscent, connective not splitting, sides moderately to densely lanate to villous, hairs white, to 1.8 mm, sutures denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm;

staminode 11–14 mm, included, 0.5–0.8 mm diam., tip straight, glabrous or distal 1–5 mm sparsely villous, hairs yellow or orange, to 0.7 mm;

style 17–21 mm.

Capsules

5–9 × 3.5–5 mm, glabrous.

7–13 × 4–7 mm.

2n

= 16.

= 16.

Penstemon rattanii

Penstemon strictus

Phenology Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat Gravelly sagebrush shrublands, pinyon-juniper woodlands, oak woodlands, spruce-aspen forests.
Elevation 1700–3500 m. (5600–11500 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; OR
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AZ; CA; CO; NM; UT; WY
[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.)

A disjunct population of Penstemon strictus in Mono County, California, appears to be an introduction, and collections from some counties in east-central Colorado (Arapahoe) and northeastern New Mexico (Harding and Union) also probably are due to recent introductions. Penstemon strictus is a popular ornamental; it has been seeded along some highways in Arizona, Colorado, and Wyoming.

(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. 180.
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. 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. 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
Synonyms P. strictus subsp. angustus
Name authority A. Gray: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 15: 50. (1879) — (as Pentstemon rattani) Bentham: in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 10: 324. (1846) — (as Pentstemon)
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