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Penstemon rattanii

Rattan's beardtongue, Rattan's penstemon

Tushar Range beardtongue

Habit Herbs.
Stems

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

prostrate, spreading, or ascending, 6–12 cm, retrorsely hairy, hairs pointed, sometimes also appressed, white, scalelike.

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.

not leathery, glabrous or sparsely hairy, hairs appressed, white, scalelike abaxially, ± densely hairy, hairs appressed, white, scalelike adaxially;

cauline 1–5 pairs, petiolate, 6–16 × 2–4.5 mm, blade obovate to spatulate, base tapered, apex rounded to mucronate or acute.

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.

continuous, secund, 2–12 cm, axis retrorsely hairy, hairs appressed or spreading, white, scalelike, sometimes also glandular-pubescent distally, verticillasters 3–12, cymes 1–3(or 4)-flowered, 1 per node;

proximal bracts spatulate to oblanceolate, 8–17 × 1.4–4 mm;

peduncles and pedicels spreading to ascending, glandular-pubescent, hairs appressed, white, scalelike.

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 lanceolate to oblong, 3–5 × 0.7–1 mm, herbaceous-margined, glandular-pubescent and retrorsely hairy, hairs appressed, white, scalelike;

corolla blue to lavender, or violet, lined internally abaxially with reddish violet nectar guides, ampliate, 12–18 mm, yellow-lanate internally abaxially, tube 5–6 mm, throat gradually inflated, 3.5–5 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens reaching orifice or longer pair exserted, filaments glabrous, pollen sacs opposite, navicular to subexplanate, 0.6–0.8 mm, sutures papillate;

staminode 7–8 mm, included, flattened distally, 0.2–0.3 mm diam., tips straight to recurved, distal 6–7 mm pubescent, hairs yellow or orange, to 0.7 mm;

style 11–14 mm.

Capsules

5–9 × 3.5–5 mm, glabrous.

3–5 × 3–4 mm.

2n

= 16.

Penstemon rattanii

Penstemon xylus

Phenology Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat Sandy or gravelly slopes, sagebrush shrublands, aspen woodlands, pine woodlands.
Elevation 2100–3100 m. (6900–10200 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; OR
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
UT
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 xylus is known from south-central Utah. Populations are documented in Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Piute, and Sevier counties. The placement of P. xylus remains unclear. D. D. Keck (1937) treated it as P. caespitosus subsp. suffruticosus. N. H. Holmgren (1979b) believed it to be more closely related to P. thompsoniae, which also has vestiture of appressed, white, scalelike hairs.

The correct name for Penstemon xylus at the rank of species, which has been a source of confusion, was discussed by C. C. Freeman (2017).

(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. 107.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Penstemon Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Caespitosi
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. 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. yampaënsis
Subordinate taxa
P. rattanii var. kleei, P. rattanii var. rattanii
Synonyms P. caespitosus var. suffruticosus
Name authority A. Gray: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 15: 50. (1879) — (as Pentstemon rattani) A. Nelson: Bot. Gaz. 34: 31. (1902) — (as Pentstemon)
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