Penstemon calcareus

Brandegee

Zoë 5: 152. 1903. (as Pentstemon)

Common names: Limestone beardtongue
EndemicConservation concern
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 17. Treatment on page 131. Mentioned on page 127, 141, 228.

Stems ascending to erect, 5–35 cm, puberulent. Leaves basal and cauline, ± leathery, ± retrorsely hairy, sometimes glabrate abaxially; basal and proximal cauline petiolate, 15–55 × 6–25 mm, blade elliptic to broadly ovate, base tapered, rarely truncate, margins entire or remotely and obscurely serrate, apex obtuse to acute; cauline 2 or 3 pairs, sessile, 25–75 × 10–21 mm, blade lanceolate to oblanceolate, rarely ovate, base truncate to subcordate-clasping, margins entire or obscurely dentate, apex obtuse to acute. Thyrses continuous or interrupted, cylindric, 6–18 cm, axis glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 2–8, cymes (1–)3–7-flowered, 2 per node; proximal bracts lanceolate to ovate, 13–38 × 9–20 mm; peduncles and pedicels glandular-pubescent. Flowers: calyx lobes lanceolate, 5–7.5 × 0.9–1.8 mm, glandular-pubescent; corolla pink to rose red or rose purple, with reddish nectar guides, tubular-funnelform, 12–17 mm, sparsely white-lanate internally abaxially, tube 4–5 mm, throat gradually inflated, not constricted at orifice, 2.5–4 mm diam., slightly 2-ridged abaxially; stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, subexplanate to explanate, 0.6–0.7 mm, dehiscing completely, sutures smooth; staminode 7–9 mm, included, 0.2–0.3 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, distal 5–6 mm densely pilose, hairs golden yellow, to 0.8 mm; style 4–6 mm. Capsules 6–9 × 4–5.5 mm.


Phenology: Flowering Apr–May.
Habitat: Limestone crevices, rocky slopes, pine-juniper woodlands.
Elevation: 1200–2000 m.

Discussion

Penstemon calcareus is known from Inyo and San Bernardino counties, California, and Esmeralda County, Nevada. The later homonym, P. calcareus M. E. Jones, is referable to P. petiolatus.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.