Penstemon cardwellii

Shrubs, sometimes cespitose. Stems ascending to erect, 10–27 cm, retrorsely hairy or puberulent, not glaucous. Leaves persistent, 6–9 pairs, distals usually distinctly smaller than proximals, short-petiolate or sessile, 15–55 × 4–16 mm, blade elliptic, base tapered, margins subentire or serrate, apex rounded to obtuse or acute, glabrous, ± glaucous. Thyrses ± interrupted, secund, 5–14 cm, axis retrorsely hairy proximally, retrorsely hairy and glandular-pubescent distally, verticillasters 3–7, cymes 1-flowered; proximal bracts ovate to lanceolate, 6–18 × 3–12 mm, margins serrate, sometimes entire; peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, glandular-pubescent, sometimes also puberulent. Flowers: calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 8–14 × 2–3.1 mm, glandular-pubescent; corolla purple to violet, essentially unlined internally but abaxial ridges usually light purple or white, not personate, funnelform, (25–)30–38 mm, glabrous externally, sparsely white-lanate internally abaxially, tube 6–8 mm, throat 9–10 mm diam.; stamens included, pollen sacs 1.5–1.7 mm; staminode 11–13 mm, essentially terete distally, 0.1 mm diam., tip straight, distal 4–6 mm moderately to densely villous, hairs white or yellowish, to 1.5 mm; style 25–29 mm. Capsules 8–11 × 4–6 mm. 2n = 16.

Phenology: Flowering May–Aug.
Habitat: Rock outcrops, pumice and talus slopes, forest clearings, roadcuts.
Elevation: 400–1900 m.

Oreg., Wash.

Discussion

Penstemon cardwellii occurs primarily on the west slope of the Cascade Range from southwestern Oregon to northwestern Washington, with isolated populations east of the crest.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa