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

little-cup beardtongue

little-flower penstemon, slender blue penstemon, small-flower beardtongue, small-flower penstemon

Habit Herbs or subshrubs. Herbs.
Stems

ascending to erect, 40–90 cm, glabrous, glaucous.

ascending to erect, 3–55(–70) cm, glabrous or ± retrorsely hairy, not glaucous.

Leaves

cauline, opposite, glabrous, glaucous;

cauline 6–14 pairs, sessile, 30–85(–102) × 3–13 mm, blade elliptic, base tapered, margins entire, apex acute.

basal and cauline, basal sometimes poorly developed, ± leathery or not, glabrous, puberulent, or retrorsely hairy;

basal and proximal cauline 9–90(–115) × 2–19 mm, blade spatulate to oblanceolate, lanceolate, or elliptic, base tapered, margins entire, apex rounded to obtuse or acute;

cauline 2–6 pairs, sessile or proximals sometimes short-petiolate, 6–85 × 1–17 mm, blade oblanceolate to spatulate, obovate, oblong, elliptic, lanceolate, or linear, base tapered to clasping, margins entire, apex rounded to obtuse or acute.

Thyrses

interrupted, cylindric, 6–30 cm, axis glabrous, verticillasters (5–)8–14, cymes 1(or 2)-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts narrowly elliptic to linear, 8–45 × 1–8 mm;

peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, glabrous.

interrupted, cylindric, 0.5–23 cm, axis glabrous or retrorsely hairy, verticillasters 1–8(–11), cymes 3–11-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate to linear, 10–50(–60) × 1–8(–16) mm, margins entire;

peduncles and pedicels erect, glabrous, puberulent, or retrorsely hairy.

Flowers

calyx lobes obovate to ovate or elliptic, 1.8–3.2 × 1.5–2.2 mm, glabrous or minutely ciliolate distally;

corolla light lavender to violet or purple, with violet nectar guides, weakly ventricose, 22–26(–28) mm, glabrous externally, glabrous internally, tube 7–9 mm, throat gradually inflated, 7–9 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included or longer pair exserted, filaments glabrous, pollen sacs parallel to slightly divergent, 1.5–2 mm, distal 2/3 indehiscent, sides glabrous, sutures denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm;

staminode 15–16 mm, included, 0.5–0.6 mm diam., glabrous;

style 16–20 mm.

calyx lobes ovate to obovate or lanceolate, 1.2–5(–5.5) × 0.5–2 mm, apex truncate, obtuse, acute, acuminate, cuspidate, caudate, or mucronate, glabrous or puberulent to retrorsely hairy;

corolla violet to blue or purple, with, sometimes without, reddish purple nectar guides, funnelform, 7–11 mm, glabrous externally, moderately white- or yellow-lanate internally abaxially, tube 2–3 mm, throat slightly inflated, 2–3 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, explanate, 0.3–0.6 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures smooth or papillate;

staminode 4–6 mm, included, 0.2–0.3 mm diam., tip straight to slightly recurved, distal 0.5–1 mm pilose, hairs yellow or golden yellow, to 0.6 mm, rarely glabrous;

style 4–7 mm.

Capsules

7–10 × 4.5–5.5 mm.

3–5 × 2–4 mm, glabrous.

Penstemon sepalulus

Penstemon procerus

Phenology Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat Rocky to gravelly and talus slopes, Gambel oak, maple, and aspen woodlands.
Elevation 1200–2300 m. (3900–7500 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
UT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AK; CA; CO; ID; MT; ND; NV; OR; UT; WA; WY; AB; BC; MB; SK; YT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Penstemon sepalulus is found in the Wasatch Mountains in Juab, Sevier, Utah, and Washington counties.

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

Varieties 6 (6 in the flora).

Penstemon procerus is a widespread, frequent, and highly variable species distributed throughout much of western North America. This variability has resulted in varied interpretations of its taxonomic units.

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

Key
1. Calyx lobes (2–)3–5(–5.5) mm, apices acuminate, cuspidate, or short- to long-caudate.
→ 2
2. Verticillasters (1–)3–8(–11); stems (6–)15–55(–70) cm; thyrses (1–)5–23 cm.
var. procerus
2. Verticillasters 1 or 2(–5); stems 3–20(–28) cm; thyrses 1–5(–13) cm.
var. tolmiei
1. Calyx lobes 1.2–3.2 mm, apices truncate to obtuse, acute, acuminate, mucronate, or short-caudate.
→ 3
3. Verticillasters 1 or 2(–5); stems 3–15(–20) cm; cauline leaves 1–4(–8) mm wide.
var. formosus
3. Verticillasters (1 or)2–6; stems (4–)8–35(–42) cm; cauline leaves 2–13 mm wide.
→ 4
4. Calyx lobes 1.2–2.4 mm, apices truncate to obtuse or mucronate, rarely short-caudate or acute; Nevada.
var. modestus
4. Calyx lobes (1.4–)1.8–3.2 mm, apices acute to acuminate or short-caudate; California, Oregon, Utah.
→ 5
5. Pollen sacs 0.3–0.4 mm; corollas 7–10 mm; stems 10–35(–42) cm; Utah.
var. aberrans
5. Pollen sacs 0.4–0.6 mm; corollas 9–12 mm; stems 9–20(–30) cm; California, Oregon.
var. brachyanthus
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 243. FNA vol. 17, p. 216.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Saccanthera Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Penstemon
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. scariosus, P. secundiflorus, P. seorsus, 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. 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. procerus var. aberrans, P. procerus var. brachyanthus, P. procerus var. formosus, P. procerus var. modestus, P. procerus var. procerus, P. procerus var. tolmiei
Synonyms P. azureus var. ambiguus P. confertus var. procerus
Name authority A. Nelson: in J. M. Coulter and A. Nelson, New Man. Bot. Rocky Mt., 449. (1909) — (as Pentstemon) Douglas ex Graham: Edinburgh New Philos. J. 7: 348. (1829) — (as Pentstemon procerum)
Web links