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

Inyo penstemon, pinyon beardtongue

cataiina beardtongue, Catalina beardtongue

Habit Herbs.
Stems

erect, 15–45(–60) cm, glabrous, glaucous.

ascending to erect, 10–35 cm, glabrous or sparsely retrorsely hairy, hairs white, scalelike.

Leaves

basal and cauline, opposite, hirsute, hairs pointed, not glaucous;

basal and proximal cauline 15–30(–60) × 4–10(–14) mm, blade ovate to elliptic, base tapered, margins entire, apex rounded to acute;

cauline 2 or 3 pairs, petiolate or sessile, 8–25(–45) × 1–3 mm, blade spatulate to oblanceolate or linear, base tapered, margins entire, apex rounded to acute.

leathery, glabrous, rarely sparsely retrorsely hairy, hairs white, scalelike abaxially, densely puberulent, hairs white, scalelike adaxially;

cauline 10–30 pairs, petiolate, 5–18 × 1–1.5 mm, blade oblanceolate to linear, base tapered, apex mucronate.

Thyrses

interrupted, cylindric, 4–24 cm, axis glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 2–4, cymes 1–4-flowered, 1 or 2 per node;

proximal bracts subulate to lanceolate or linear, 4–35 × 1–3 mm;

peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, glandular-pubescent.

continuous or interrupted, ± secund, 2–15 cm, axis glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 5–13, cymes 1–3-flowered, 1 per node;

proximal bracts oblanceolate to linear, 5–12 × 0.5–1 mm;

peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, glandular-pubescent.

Flowers

calyx lobes oblong to ovate, 3–4.5(–5) × 0.9–2 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla lavender to violet or purple, with or without faint reddish purple nectar guides, ventricose, 25–34 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, yellow-lanate internally abaxially, tube 6–9 mm, throat gradually inflated, 6–8 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included, filaments glabrous, pollen sacs nearly parallel, 1.4–1.5(–1.7) mm, distal 1/2 indehiscent, sides glabrous, sutures denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm;

staminode 15–19 mm, included, 0.2–0.3 mm diam., distal 4–8 mm sparsely pilose, hairs yellow, to 0.7 mm;

style 20–29 mm.

calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 2.5–3.5 × 1.2–1.8 mm, scarious-margined, glandular-pubescent, hairs pointed;

corolla lavender to violet or purple, lined internally abaxially with reddish purple nectar guides, tubular-funnelform, 9–14 mm, densely yellow- or whitish lanate internally abaxially, tube 3–5 mm, throat gradually inflated, 3.5–5 mm diam., slightly 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included, filaments glabrous, pollen sacs opposite, navicular, 0.5–0.8 mm, sutures papillate;

staminode 7–8 mm, included or reaching orifice, flattened distally, 0.2–0.4 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, distal 5–6 mm densely pilose, hairs golden yellow, to 1 mm;

style 8–11 mm.

Capsules

6–10 × 4–6 mm.

5–8 × 3–4.8 mm.

2n

= 16.

Penstemon scapoides

Penstemon discolor

Phenology Flowering Jun–Aug. Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat Sagebrush shrublands, pine-juniper and pine woodlands. Pinyon-juniper and oak woodlands, granite crevices.
Elevation 2000–3100 m. (6600–10200 ft.) 1900–2100 m. (6200–6900 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AZ
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Penstemon scapoides is known from the Inyo, Last Chance, and White mountains in Inyo County.

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

Penstemon discolor is known from the Atascosa, Dragoon, Santa Catalina, and Santa Teresa mountains in Cochise, Graham, Pima, and Santa Cruz counties.

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

Source FNA vol. 17, p. 243. FNA vol. 17, p. 103.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Saccanthera 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. rattanii, P. retrorsus, P. rhizomatosus, P. richardsonii, P. roezlii, P. rostriflorus, P. rubicundus, P. rupicola, P. rydbergii, P. saxosorum, 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. 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. xylus, P. yampaënsis
Name authority D. D. Keck: Univ. Calif. Publ. Bot. 16: 379, fig. 4. (1932) D. D. Keck: Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 64: 379. (1937)
Web links