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

trumpet penstemon, tube beardtongue, white wand beardtongue

Leonard's beardtongue, Leonard's penstemon

Habit Herbs. Herbs or subshrubs.
Stems

erect, 25–85(–100) cm, glabrous, not glaucous.

decumbent to ascending or erect, (5–)10–30(–47) cm, puberulent or retrorsely hairy, hairs pointed, not glaucous.

Leaves

basal and cauline, basal often withering by anthesis, not leathery, glabrous;

basal and proximal cauline 25–110 × 6–38 mm, blade spatulate to ovate, base tapered, margins entire or ± serrate, apex rounded to obtuse;

cauline 5–8(–10) pairs, sessile, 15–100(–135) × 4–20(–38) mm, blade ovate to lanceolate, base tapered to clasping, margins entire or ± serrate, apex acute to acuminate.

cauline, opposite, glabrous, sometimes proximals puberulent, hairs pointed, not glaucous;

cauline 2–7 pairs, short-petiolate or sessile, 11–48(–60) × 2–12 mm, blade oblanceolate to spatulate or obovate, rarely linear, base tapered, margins entire, apex rounded to obtuse or acute.

Thyrses

interrupted, cylindric, 8–30(–40) cm, axis glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 4–8(–12), cymes 3–9-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts ovate to lanceolate, 9–50 × 2–10 mm, margins entire or ± serrulate;

peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, glabrous or glandular-pubescent.

continuous or interrupted, cylindric to ± secund, (1–)2–15(–25) cm, axis glabrous or retrorsely hairy, verticillasters 2–8, cymes 1–4-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, 10–35 × 1–4 mm;

peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, peduncles glabrous or sparsely retrorsely hairy, pedicels glabrous or papillate distally.

Flowers

calyx lobes ovate, 2.5–5 × 1.5–2.5 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla white, without nectar guides, funnelform, 15–22 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, glandular-pubescent internally, tube slightly differentiated, 5–7 mm, throat slightly inflated, 4–6 mm diam., rounded abaxially;

stamens included or longer pair reaching orifice, pollen sacs divergent, explanate, 0.8–1 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures smooth;

staminode 9–11 mm, included or reaching orifice, 0.2–0.3 mm diam., tip recurved, distal 3–4 mm sparsely villous, hairs yellowish or brownish yellow, to 0.8 mm;

style 10–12 mm.

calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 3–5.5 × 0.9–2.2 mm, margins entire or erose, scarious, apex acuminate to caudate, glabrous;

corolla lavender to blue or violet, with or without faint lavender nectar guides, funnelform to ventricose, 14–26 mm, glabrous externally, glabrous internally, tube 5–8 mm, throat gradually inflated, 6–8(–10) mm diam., slightly 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included or longer pair reaching orifice, filaments glabrous, pollen sacs parallel, 0.9–1.9 mm, distal 1/2–2/3 indehiscent, sides glabrous or puberulent, hairs white, to 0.1 mm, sutures denticulate, teeth to 0.2 mm;

staminode 10–15 mm, included or reaching orifice, 0.6–0.9 mm diam., glabrous;

style 12–18 mm.

Capsules

7–10 × 3–5 mm, glabrous.

6–8 × 2.5–4.5 mm.

2n

= 32.

Penstemon tubaeflorus

Penstemon leonardii

Phenology Flowering May–Jul.
Habitat Tallgrass prairies, woodlands, roadsides.
Elevation 20–600 m. (100–2000 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AR; CT; IA; IL; IN; KS; KY; LA; MA; ME; MO; MS; NE; NH; NY; OH; PA; RI; TN; TX; VT; WI; ON
[WildflowerSearch map]
from FNA
AZ; ID; NV; UT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Penstemon tubaeflorus is concentrated in the southeastern Great Plains and Ozark Highlands, where it probably is native. Penstemon tubaeflorus appears to have naturalized eastward and northward in North America due to habitat disturbance and planting. Sometimes it grows in mixed populations with P. digitalis. Fruiting specimens of P. tubaeflorus often are misidentified as P. digitalis; the former can be distinguished by its more cylindric inflorescences with erect peduncles and smaller capsules.

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

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

Penstemon leonardii is common in the Wasatch Mountains, Utah Plateaus, and mountain ranges in the eastern Basin and Range Province. Elements allied with it have been interpreted variously as one species comprising three varieties, two species (one with two varieties), or three species; the broadest concept is followed here.

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

Key
1. Corollas 20–26 mm; pollen sacs (1.2–)1.4–1.9 mm; e Nevada, w Utah.
var. patricus
1. Corollas 14–22 mm; pollen sacs 0.9–1.6 mm; nw Arizona, se Idaho, se Nevada, Utah.
→ 2
2. Corolla limbs blue to lavender; thyrses continuous; se Idaho, n Utah.
var. leonardii
2. Corolla limbs lavender to violet; thyrses continuous or interrupted; nw Arizona, se Nevada, sw Utah.
var. higginsii
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 225. FNA vol. 17, p. 237.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Penstemon 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. triflorus, P. triphyllus, 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. 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. leonardii var. higginsii, P. leonardii var. leonardii, P. leonardii var. patricus
Synonyms P. tubaeflorus var. achoreus
Name authority Nuttall: Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., n. s. 5: 181. (1835) — (as Pentstemon tubaeflorum) Rydberg: Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 40: 483. (1913) — (as Pentstemon leonardi)
Web links