Penstemon bracteatus
Leafl. W. Bot. 1: 82. 1934.
Plants: caudex rhizomelike. Stems decumbent to erect, 3–10(–15) cm, glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline, glabrous; basal and proximal cauline (10–)20–35 × 5–17 mm, blade obovate, base tapered, apex rounded to obtuse; cauline 1–3 pairs, sessile, 10–29 × 5–12 mm, blade ovate to elliptic, base tapered, apex rounded to mucronate. Thyrses continuous, cylindric, 1–6 cm, axis glabrous, verticillasters 1–5(or 6), cymes 3–5-flowered; proximal bracts ovate, 6–14 × 3–13 mm; peduncles and pedicels glabrous. Flowers: calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, (3–)4–5.5 × 1.7–2.2 mm, margins entire or erose, narrowly to broadly scarious, glabrous; corolla blue to violet or lavender, with reddish purple nectar guides, tubular-funnelform, 13–17(–19) mm, glabrous externally, sparsely white-villous internally abaxially, tube 4–5 mm, throat gradually inflated, 4–5 mm diam., rounded abaxially; stamens included, pollen sacs divergent to opposite, 0.8–1.2 mm, sutures smooth or obscurely papillate; staminode 6–8 mm, included, 0.8–1 mm diam., tip recurved, distal 4–5 mm moderately to densely pubescent, hairs golden yellow, to 1 mm; style 7–8 mm. Capsules 5–7 × 5–6 mm.
Phenology: Flowering May–Jul.
Habitat: Gravelly and talus slopes, pine woodlands.
Elevation: 2100–2500 m.
Discussion
Penstemon bracteatus is known from Garfield, Iron, and Kane counties. Plants grow on limestones of the Claron Formation.
Selected References
None.