Penstemon havardii
Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 20: 306. 1885. (as Pentstemon havardi)
Stems ascending to erect, 45–150(–200) cm, glaucous. Leaves glabrous, glaucous; basal and proximal cauline 75–130 × 18–50 mm, blade ovate to elliptic, base tapered, margins entire, apex rounded to obtuse; cauline 3–7 pairs, proximals usually short-petiolate, distal ones sessile, 24–145 × 12–70 mm, blade elliptic to ovate, base tapered to clasping, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute. Thyrses interrupted, cylindric, 14–60(–80) cm, axis glabrous, verticillasters 7–20, cymes 2–8(–18)-flowered; proximal bracts ovate to lanceolate, 15–33 × 4–20 mm; peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, glabrous or sparsely glandular-pubescent. Flowers: calyx lobes elliptic to ovate, 3.5–5(–5.8) × 1.8–2.4 mm, margins entire or erose, sparsely glandular-pubescent; corolla scarlet to orange, without nectar guides, bilaterally symmetric, bilabiate, tubular-funnelform, 20–28 mm, sparsely glandular-pubescent externally, glandular-pubescent internally, tube 4–7 mm, throat gradually inflated, 5–6 mm diam., rounded abaxially; stamens included or longer pair reaching orifice, pollen sacs explanate, 1–1.2 mm, sutures smooth; staminode 14–20 mm, flattened distally, 0.3–0.6 mm diam., tip straight, glabrous; style 16–20 mm. Capsules 7–12 × 5–8 mm.
Phenology: Flowering Apr–Oct.
Habitat: Dry, rocky slopes, streambeds.
Elevation: 1500–1800 m.
Distribution
Tex., Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Zacatecas).
Discussion
In Texas, Penstemon havardii is known from Brewster, Jeff Davis, and Presidio counties. Fruiting cymes of P. havardii sometimes elongate to 10 cm.
Selected References
None.