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

northern smooth beardtongue, smooth penstemon

crested beardtongue, crested-tongue beardtongue, crested-tongue penstemon, fuzzy-tongue penstemon

Stems

erect, (10–)18–90(–130) cm, glabrous proximally, usually sparsely glandular distally, not glaucous.

ascending to erect, (2–)6–60 cm, retrorsely hairy, sometimes also villous or glandular-villous, or glabrate.

Leaves

basal and cauline, not leathery, glabrous, not glaucous;

basal and proximal cauline 35–140(–170) × 8–24 mm, blade oblanceolate, sometimes lanceolate, base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 3–6(–11) pairs, short-petiolate or sessile, 28–95(–130) × 4–15 mm, blade oblanceolate to lanceolate, base tapered to clasping, apex acute.

basal and cauline, not leathery, glabrous or glabrate to retrorsely hairy and, sometimes, sparsely villous abaxially, glabrous or glabrate to retrorsely hairy and, sometimes, villous or glandular-villous adaxially;

basal and proximal cauline petiolate, (14–)22–130(–180) × 3–30(–40) mm, blade spatulate to obovate, oblanceolate, elliptic, or linear, base tapered, margins entire or ± dentate to serrate, apex rounded to obtuse or acute;

cauline 2–6 pairs, sessile or proximals short-petiolate, 18–90 × 3–20(–25) mm, blade oblanceolate to oblong, lanceolate, or linear, base tapered to clasping or cordate-clasping, margins entire or ± dentate to serrate, apex obtuse to acute.

Thyrses

interrupted, secund, (4–)12–38 cm, axis glabrous or glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 4–12, cymes 1–3(–6)-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, (3–)15–75 × (1–)2–22 mm;

peduncles and pedicels glandular-pubescent, sometimes sparsely so.

continuous or interrupted, cylindric, (1–)2–20(–27) cm, axis glandular-pubescent to glandular-villous, sometimes also retrorsely hairy, verticillasters 2–7(–9), cymes (1 or)2–6-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts oblanceolate to oblong or lanceolate, 12–75 × 2–23 mm;

peduncles and pedicels glandular-villous or glandular-pubescent and, sometimes, also retrorsely hairy.

Flowers

calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 4.5–7.5 × (1.5–)2.1–2.8 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla blue to violet or purple, with violet nectar guides, ventricose, 19–28 mm, ± glandular-pubescent externally, glabrous internally, tube 6–10(–11) mm, throat gradually inflated, not constricted at orifice, 7–10 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens included or longer pair reaching orifice, pollen sacs opposite, navicular, 1.6–2 mm, dehiscing incompletely, connective not splitting, sides sparsely to moderately hispid or pubescent, hairs white, to 0.2 mm, sutures denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm;

staminode 13–16 mm, reaching orifice or slightly exserted, 0.6–0.8 mm diam., tip straight, distal 2–3 mm sparsely villous, hairs yellow, to 0.7 mm;

style 14–18 mm.

calyx lobes lanceolate, 5.5–13 × 1.4–3 mm, glandular-pubescent to glandular-villous;

corolla lavender to violet, purple, pink, or blue, with reddish purple nectar guides, funnelform or ventricose-ampliate, 16–35(–42) mm, sparsely to densely white- or yellow-villous internally abaxially, sometimes glandular-pubescent laterally, tube 4–9 mm, throat gradually to abruptly inflated, constricted or not at orifice, 6–14 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs widely divergent to opposite, navicular to subexplanate or explanate, 0.8–1.9 mm, dehiscing completely, sutures smooth or papillate;

staminode 12–18 mm, exserted or prominently exserted, 0.3–0.9 mm diam., tip recurved, distal 6–15 mm sparsely to densely lanate, hairs yellow, yellowish, or orangish, to 4 mm, and medial hairs shorter, stiffer, and retrorse;

style 9–20 mm, glabrous or proximal 1–10 mm sparsely glandular-pubescent.

Capsules

8–12 × 5–6 mm.

6–13 × 4–6 mm, sparsely glandular-pubescent distally.

2n

= 16.

Penstemon subglaber

Penstemon eriantherus

Phenology Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat Sagebrush shrublands, clearings in fir forests.
Elevation 1600–3400 m. (5200–11200 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
ID; UT; WY
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CO; ID; MT; ND; NE; OR; SD; UT; WA; WY; AB; BC
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Studies of morphology and flavonoids confirm the distinctness of Penstemon subglaber from P. mensarum and P. saxosorum (M. L. Moorman 1982). Penstemon subglaber occurs primarily from the Teton and Wind River mountains of western Wyoming through the Uinta and Wasatch mountains to the Tushar Mountains in south-central Utah.

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

Varieties 5 (5 in the flora).

D. D. Keck (1938) treated this complex as three species: Penstemon cleburnei, P. eriantherus (with three varieties), and P. whitedii (with three subspecies). Most authors followed A. Cronquist (1959), who employed a broader species concept; the approach by Cronquist is followed here.

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

Key
1. Corollas constricted at orifices; styles 9–12(–14) mm; pollen sacs 0.8–1.2 mm.
var. cleburnei
1. Corollas not constricted at orifices; styles 9–20 mm; pollen sacs 1–1.9 mm.
→ 2
2. Stems glabrate or retrorsely hairy, rarely glandular-villous, proximally, glandular-villous distally; leaves glabrous or glabrate abaxially, glabrate or villous to glandular-villous adaxially.
var. whitedii
2. Stems retrorsely hairy and, sometimes, sparsely villous, glandular-villous, or glandular-pubescent distally; leaves retrorsely hairy and, sometimes, sparsely villous or glabrous abaxially, retrorsely hairy or puberulent and, sometimes, villous or glandular-villous adaxially.
→ 3
3. Corollas funnelform; staminodes sparsely lanate distally; leaves glabrous abaxially.
var. argillosus
3. Corollas ventricose-ampliate; staminodes moderately to densely lanate distally; leaves retrorsely hairy, sparsely villous, or glabrous abaxially.
→ 4
4. Pollen sacs explanate; stems retrorsely hairy and, usually, sparsely villous or glandular-villous distally; corollas (20–)22–35(–42) mm.
var. eriantherus
4. Pollen sacs navicular to subexplanate; stems retrorsely hairy, sometimes also glandular-pubescent distally or wholly; corollas 18–25 mm.
var. redactus
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 181. FNA vol. 17, p. 133.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Glabri Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Cristati
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. sepalulus, P. serrulatus, P. smallii, P. spatulatus, P. speciosus, P. spectabilis, P. stenophyllus, P. stephensii, P. strictiformis, P. strictus, 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. 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
Subordinate taxa
P. eriantherus var. argillosus, P. eriantherus var. cleburnei, P. eriantherus var. eriantherus, P. eriantherus var. redactus, P. eriantherus var. whitedii
Synonyms P. glaber var. utahensis
Name authority Rydberg: Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 36: 688. (1909) — (as Pentstemon) Pursh: Fl. Amer. Sept. 2: 737. (1813) — (as Pentstemon erianthera)
Web links