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Garrett's beardtongue, White River beardtongue

Mojave beardtongue, western desert penstemon

Habit Shrubs or subshrubs.
Stems

ascending or erect, rarely decumbent, (8–)16–50(–60) cm, glabrous, not glaucous.

ascending to erect, 22–100 cm, glaucous.

Leaves

basal and cauline, or basal not persisting, ± leathery or not, glabrous, not glaucous;

basal and proximal cauline (18–)35–180 × (3–)6–15(–24) mm, blade oblanceolate to oblong or linear, base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 3–5(or 6) pairs, sessile or proximals sometimes short-petiolate, 34–115 × 2–14 mm, blade oblanceolate to oblong or linear, base tapered, apex obtuse to acute.

cauline 6–18 pairs, sessile, (8–)25–70 × (1–)2.5–4(–6) mm, blade lanceolate to linear, base tapered, margins entire, apex acute to acuminate.

Thyrses

interrupted or continuous, secund, (1–)6–18(–25) cm, axis glabrous or sparsely glandular-pubescent, verticillasters (2 or)3–7(–9), cymes (1 or)2–5-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate to linear, 25–70(–95) × (1–)3–12(–20) mm;

peduncles and pedicels glabrous or glandular-pubescent.

interrupted, cylindric, 3–27 cm, axis sparsely glandular-pubescent, rarely glabrous, verticillasters (2–)4–9, cymes 1–3(–5)-flowered;

proximal bracts lanceolate to linear, 3–35 × 1–5 mm;

peduncles and pedicels spreading or ascending, glandular-pubescent.

Flowers

calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, (4–)4.8–11 × 1.3–3.2(–3.7) mm, glabrous or glandular-pubescent;

corolla blue to lavender, with reddish purple nectar guides, ventricose, 18–33 mm, sparsely to moderately glandular-pubescent externally, glabrous, rarely sparsely white-villous, internally abaxially, tube 6–11 mm, throat gradually inflated, slightly constricted at orifice, 6–11 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens: longer pair reaching orifice, pollen sacs divergent to opposite, navicular to navicular-sigmoid, (1.3–)1.5–2.4 mm, dehiscing incompletely, proximal 1/5 indehiscent, connective not splitting, sides moderately pubescent, hairs white, to 0.8 mm, sutures denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm;

staminode 11–19 mm, reaching orifice, 0.3–0.8 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, distal 3–7 mm sparsely to moderately villous, hairs yellow, to 0.8 mm;

style 12–22 mm.

calyx lobes ovate, 3.8–6 × 2.6–4 mm, glabrous or sparsely glandular-pubescent;

corolla blue to violet or purple, without nectar guides, strongly bilabiate, ventricose-ampliate, 23–32 mm, glabrous or glandular-pubescent externally, sparsely white-lanate internally abaxially, glandular-pubescent adaxially, tube 7–11 mm, length 1.8–2 times calyx lobes, throat gradually inflated, not constricted at orifice, 8–13 mm diam., slightly 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included, filaments of shorter pair glandular-puberulent proximally, pollen sacs navicular, 1.8–2.4 mm, sutures denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm;

staminode 10–13 mm, included, 0.6–0.7 mm diam., tip straight, distal 3–7 mm sparsely to densely pilose, hairs yellow, to 1 mm;

proximal 1–3 mm glandular-pubescent;

style 19–23 mm, glabrous.

Capsules

6–10 × 5–6.5 mm.

10–17 × 5–7 mm, glabrous.

Penstemon scariosus

Penstemon incertus

Phenology Flowering Apr–Jul.
Habitat Sandy soils, sagebrush shrublands, Joshua tree and pinyon-juniper woodlands.
Elevation 800–1800 m. (2600–5900 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CO; UT; WY
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 4 (4 in the flora).

Penstemon scariosus comprises four varieties centered in the northwestern Colorado Plateau, Uinta Basin, and Wasatch Range.

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

Populations of Penstemon incertus are concentrated in the southern Sierra Nevada and adjacent Tehachapi Mountains, with other populations scattered in mountain ranges in and near the Mojave Desert. The species is documented in Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Tulare counties. Occasional specimens from the Kingston Range and the eastern flank of the southern Sierra Nevada combine features of P. incertus and P. fruticiformis.

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

Key
1. Corollas 25–33 mm; calyx lobes 7–11 mm; pollen sacs 1.8–2.4 mm.
var. scariosus
1. Corollas 18–28 mm; calyx lobes (4–)4.8–8 mm; pollen sacs (1.3–)1.5–2.2 mm.
→ 2
2. Corollas sparsely to moderately glandular-pubescent externally, limbs blue to bluish purple; styles 12–14 mm.
var. cyanomontanus
2. Corollas sparsely glandular-pubescent externally, limbs lavender to pale blue or blue; styles 13–22 mm.
→ 3
3. Corolla limbs lavender to pale blue; styles 18–22 mm; basal leaves seldom persisting.
var. albifluvis
3. Corolla limbs blue; styles 13–17 mm; basal leaves usually persisting.
var. garrettii
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 178. FNA vol. 17, p. 251.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Glabri Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Spectabiles
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. scapoides, 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. 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
Subordinate taxa
P. scariosus var. albifluvis, P. scariosus var. cyanomontanus, P. scariosus var. garrettii, P. scariosus var. scariosus
Name authority Pennell: Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 20: 353. (1920) Brandegee: Bot. Gaz. 27: 454. (1899) — (as Pentstemon)
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