Penstemon dolius
Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 20: 341. 1920.
Stems prostrate, decumbent, ascending, or erect, 2–14(–20) cm, pubescent to densely retrorsely hairy. Leaves basal and cauline, not leathery, retrorsely hairy; basal and proximal cauline petiolate, (5–)10–40(–55) × 4–14 mm, blade spatulate to oblanceolate, base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute, rarely rounded; cauline 1–3 pairs, sessile, 12–38 × 3–7 mm, blade oblanceolate, not arcuate, base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute. Thyrses continuous, cylindric, 0.5–8(–10) cm, axis retrorsely hairy, verticillasters 1–4(–7), cymes 1- or 2(–4)-flowered, 1 or 2 per node; proximal bracts oblanceolate to lanceolate, 12–34 × 2–8 mm; peduncles and pedicels retrorsely hairy, sometimes sparsely glandular-pubescent. Flowers: calyx lobes lanceolate, 4–6 × 1–1.9 mm, retrorsely hairy, sometimes sparsely glandular-pubescent; corolla light blue to blue or violet, with, rarely without, faint blue or reddish purple nectar guides, funnelform, 14–20 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, sparsely white-lanate internally abaxially, tube 6–7 mm, throat gradually inflated, not constricted at orifice, 4–7 mm diam., slightly 2-ridged abaxially; stamens included or longer pair reaching orifice, pollen sacs opposite, navicular, 0.9–1.2 mm, dehiscing completely, sutures papillate; staminode 7–10 mm, included or reaching orifice, 0.7–0.9 mm diam., tip recurved to coiled, distal 5–8 mm sparsely pubescent to lanate, hairs yellow or yellow-orange, to 1 mm; style 10–12 mm. Capsules 4–6 × 4–5 mm.
Phenology: Flowering May–Jun.
Habitat: Gravelly soils, shadscale and sagebrush shrublands, pinyon-juniper woodlands.
Elevation: 1400–2100 m.
Discussion
Penstemon dolius is known from east-central Nevada (Elko, Nye, and White Pine counties) and west-central Utah (Beaver, Juab, Millard, Sanpete, and Tooele counties). Penstemon dolius is distinguished from P. duchesnensis by longer stems and leaves and more sparsely bearded staminodes. Corollas of P. dolius usually have nectar guides; P. duchesnensis appears to lack nectar guides.
Selected References
None.