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

Heller's beardtongue

Cascade beardtongue, Cascade penstemon, Cascades penstemon, coast penstemon, serrulate penstemon

Habit Herbs or subshrubs.
Stems

erect, 30–65 cm, retrorsely hairy.

ascending to erect, 13–80 cm, glabrous or retrorsely hairy, hairs pointed, not glaucous.

Leaves

basal and cauline or, sometimes, basal absent or withering, not leathery to ± leathery, glabrous or retrorsely hairy along midvein and, sometimes, along margins;

basal and proximal cauline petiolate, 22–120(–190) × 7–40(–65) mm, blade oblanceolate to elliptic, base tapered, margins entire or serrate to dentate, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 6–8(–10) pairs, sessile, 30–95(–115) × 7–30 mm, blade ovate to lanceolate to linear, base tapered to cordate clasping, margins entire or serrate, apex acute.

cauline, opposite, glabrous, sometimes sparsely puberulent, hairs pointed, adaxially along midvein, not glaucous;

cauline 3–6 pairs, petiolate proximally or sessile distally, (12–)30–80 × (7–)15–50 mm, blade ovate-oblong proximally, ovate or lanceolate distally, base truncate to tapered proximally, cordate-clasping distally, margins serrate, apex obtuse to acute.

Thyrses

interrupted, cylindric, 5–20 cm, axis glandular-pubescent, verticillasters (3–)4–6, cymes 2–4(–6)-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts ovate to lanceolate, 14–50 × 6–17 mm;

peduncles and pedicels glandular-pubescent.

continuous or interrupted, cylindric, 2–18(–28) cm, axis retrorsely hairy, verticillasters 1–3(–5), cymes 3–10-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts ovate, 13–35(–80) × 6–16(–36) mm;

peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, retrorsely hairy to puberulent.

Flowers

calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 6.5–13 × 2.5–4.8 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla pink to pinkish red or reddish violet, with red or crimson nectar guides, ventricose, 22–35 mm, glandular-pubescent internally, tube 8–11 mm, throat gradually inflated, not constricted at orifice, 10–13 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens: longer pair exserted, pollen sacs opposite, explanate, 0.9–1.2 mm, dehiscing completely, sutures smooth;

staminode 17–20 mm, included or reaching orifice, 0.4–0.6 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, distal 8–12 mm sparsely to moderately pilose, hairs yellow, to 1 mm;

style 18–24 mm.

calyx lobes obovate to lanceolate, 3.5–11 × 1–3 mm, sparsely pubescent and ciliolate along margins, sometimes glabrate;

corolla blue to violet or purple, without nectar guides, weakly ventricose, 17–25(–28) mm, glabrous externally, glabrous or sparsely to densely white-lanate internally abaxially, tube 4–6 mm, throat gradually inflated, 5–8 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included, filaments glabrous, pollen sacs parallel, 1.1–1.6 mm, distal 1/2–2/3 indehiscent, sides glabrous, sutures denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm;

staminode 12–14 mm, exserted, 0.3–0.6 mm diam., distal 2–7 mm sparsely lanate, hairs yellow, to 1.5 mm;

style 10–16 mm.

Capsules

(7–)11–14 × 5–8.5 mm.

5–8 × 3–5.5 mm.

2n

= 16.

Penstemon triflorus

Penstemon serrulatus

Phenology Flowering Jun–Aug(–Sep).
Habitat Sandy to rocky stream banks, gullies, slopes, roadcuts, coniferous forests.
Elevation 0–1800 m. (0–5900 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
TX; n Mexico
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AK; OR; WA; BC
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Penstemon triflorus occurs largely on the Edwards Plateau, though a few populations are known from adjacent physiographic provinces in central Texas.

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

Penstemon serrulatus occurs from southeastern Alaska through western British Columbia and western Washington to southwestern Oregon, largely in the Cascade and Coast ranges. Herbarium specimens sometimes are misidentified as P. ovatus, which has glandular-pubescent inflorescences and navicular pollen sacs.

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

Key
1. Cauline leaf blades ovate to lanceolate, margins sharply serrate; calyx lobes 8–13 × 3–4.8 mm; corollas 30–35 mm.
var. triflorus
1. Cauline leaf blades lanceolate to linear, margins entire or obscurely, rarely sharply, serrate; calyx lobes 6.5–8.5 × 2.4–3.5 mm; corollas 22–30 mm.
var. integrifolius
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 142. FNA vol. 17, p. 244.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Cristati Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Saccanthera
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. 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. 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. 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. triflorus var. integrifolius, P. triflorus var. triflorus
Name authority A. Heller: Contr. Herb. Franklin Marshall Coll. 1: 92, plate 8. (1895) — (as Pentstemon) Menzies ex Smith: in A. Rees, Cycl. 26: Pentstemon no. 5. (1814) — (as Pentstemon serrulata)
Web links