Stems retrorsely hairy. Leaves: axillary fascicles absent, rarely present; cauline (25–)30–100 × 2–12 mm. Thyrses: axis retrorsely hairy. Flowers: calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jul.
Habitat: Grasslands, chaparral, pine forest openings.
Elevation: 50–1600 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Calif.

Discussion

Variety purdyi occurs primarily in northern California from Humboldt, Lassen, and Trinity counties to San Benito County.

The status of subsp. spinulosus has been problematic. Known only from the type collection (G. R. Vasey, June 1881, US) reputedly from the Santa Magdalena Mountains of New Mexico, the subspecies is disjunct 600 km east of the nearest California populations of Penstemon heterophyllus. F. W. Pennell examined the type in 1941 and provided evidence that the specimen was actually collected by Vasey in 1880 in Marin County, California, and D. D. Keck (1932) concluded that the only character distinguishing subsp. spinulosus from subsp. purdyi (= var. purdyi) is the length of the teeth along the anther sutures. This treatment concurs with the conclusion by Pennell that subsp. spinulosus is based on a mislabeled specimen and synonymous with var. purdyi.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.