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Washington beardtongue, Washington penstemon

Platte River penstemon, Wasatch beardtongue, Wasatch penstemon

Habit Herbs.
Stems

erect, 3–25 cm, glabrous or ± retrorsely hairy, not glaucous.

decumbent to erect, 5–70(–90) cm, glabrous or sparsely to densely puberulent, not glaucous.

Leaves

basal and cauline, not leathery, glabrous;

basal and proximal cauline (10–)17–60 × 5–18 mm, blade spatulate to oblanceolate, lanceolate, or elliptic, base tapered, margins entire, apex rounded to obtuse or acute;

cauline 2–6 pairs, short-petiolate or sessile, 10–55 × 3–15 mm, blade ovate to lanceolate, base tapered to clasping, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute.

basal and cauline, ± leathery or not, glabrous or basal ones sparsely to densely puberulent, not glaucous;

basal and proximal cauline (20–)45–160 × 3–40(–55) mm, blade obovate to oblanceolate, base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute;

cauline 1–6 pairs, sessile or proximals short- to long-petiolate, 16–100 × 5–45(–60) mm, blade ovate or oblanceolate to lanceolate, base cordate-clasping to clasping, apex obtuse to acute.

Thyrses

interrupted, cylindric, 1–6 cm, axis sparsely glandular-pubescent, sometimes also retrorsely hairy, verticillasters 1–3(or 4), cymes 2–6-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts lanceolate, 2–15 × 1–7 mm, margins entire;

peduncles and pedicels erect, sparsely to moderately glandular-pubescent.

continuous or interrupted, cylindric to subsecund, 2–30 cm, axis glabrous, verticillasters 2–12, cymes 3–7-flowered, 2 per node;

proximal bracts ovate to lanceolate, 7–80 × (1–)3–35 mm;

peduncles and pedicels glabrous, peduncles to 20 mm, pedicels 1–9 mm.

Flowers

calyx lobes lanceolate, 3–4 × 0.8–1.2 mm, glandular-pubescent;

corolla dark blue, sometimes whitish, without nectar guides, funnelform, 9–12 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, moderately whitish lanate internally abaxially, tube 3–4 mm, throat slightly inflated, 2–3 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, explanate to subexplanate, 0.5–0.6 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures smooth;

staminode 5–6 mm, included, 0.2–0.3 mm diam., tip straight to slightly recurved, distal 0.5–1 mm moderately pilose, hairs golden yellow, to 0.5 mm;

style 4–6 mm.

calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 3–6.5 × 1.3–2.6 mm, apex acute to acuminate or cuspidate, glabrous;

corolla blue to violet, without nectar guides, ventricose, 12–25(–28) mm, glabrous externally, glabrous internally, tube 6–11 mm, throat gradually inflated, not constricted at orifice, 6–11 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially;

stamens included or longer pair reaching orifice, pollen sacs divergent, navicular, 1.2–2(–2.2) mm, dehiscing incompletely, proximal 1/4–1/3 indehiscent, connective not splitting, sides hispid, hairs white, to 0.5 mm, sutures denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm;

staminode 11–14 mm, included or reaching orifice, 0.3–0.6 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, distal 6–9 mm sparsely to moderately pilose to lanate, hairs orange, yellow, or white, to 1 mm;

style 9–16 mm.

Capsules

4–7 × 2.5–4 mm, glabrous.

7–15 × 5–10 mm.

Penstemon washingtonensis

Penstemon cyananthus

Phenology Flowering Jul–Aug(–Sep).
Habitat Alpine meadows, rocky slopes, grassy openings in pine-fir forests.
Elevation 1800–2300 m. (5900–7500 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
WA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
ID; MT; UT; WY
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Penstemon washingtonensis is known from Chelan and Okanogan counties. Except for its glandular-pubescent inflorescence, P. washingtonensis is morphologically similar to P. procerus var. tolmiei.

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

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

Penstemon compactus and P. longiflorus have been treated as elements of the P. cyananthus complex (F. W. Pennell 1920b; D. D. Keck 1940b). All of these taxa occur from the Wasatch Range northward into the Central Rocky Mountains.

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

Key
1. Cauline leaf blades lanceolate to oblanceolate; calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, apices acute to cuspidate, rarely acuminate.
var. subglaber
1. Cauline leaf blades ovate to lanceolate; calyx lobes lanceolate, rarely ovate, apices acuminate, rarely acute.
→ 2
2. Verticillasters 4–12; thyrses 4–30 cm; stems ascending to erect, 20–70(–90) cm; corollas 16–25(–28) mm.
var. cyananthus
2. Verticillasters 2 or 3; thyrses 2–6 cm; stems decumbent to ascending, 5–25(–32) cm; corollas 12–16(–20) mm.
var. judyae
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 226. FNA vol. 17, p. 163.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Penstemon Plantaginaceae > Penstemon > subg. Penstemon > sect. Glabri
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. tubaeflorus, P. uintahensis, P. utahensis, P. venustus, P. virens, P. virgatus, P. wardii, 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. 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. 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. cyananthus var. cyananthus, P. cyananthus var. judyae, P. cyananthus var. subglaber
Name authority D. D. Keck: Amer. Midl. Naturalist 33: 150. (1945) Hooker: Bot. Mag. 75: plate 4464. (1849) — (as Pentstemon)
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