Penstemon metcalfei
Torreya 9: 145. 1909. (as Pentstemon)
Herbs. Stems ascending to erect, 17–40 cm, retrorsely hairy, sometimes also ± glandular-pubescent distally, not glaucous. Leaves basal and cauline, not leathery, retrorsely hairy, sometimes only along midribs and margins; basal and proximal cauline 12–130 × 10–35 mm, blade ovate to elliptic, base tapered, margins entire or ± denticulate, apex obtuse to acute; cauline 3 or 4 pairs, petiolate or sessile, 33–100 × 12–27 mm, blade ovate to lanceolate, base tapered to truncate, sometimes clasping on distal ones, margins entire or ± denticulate, apex acute. Thyrses interrupted, cylindric, 5–15 cm, axis glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 3–5, cymes 2–6-flowered, 2 per node; proximal bracts ovate to lanceolate, 18–50 × 4–22 mm, margins entire; peduncles and pedicels erect, glandular-pubescent. Flowers: calyx lobes lanceolate, 3–6.5 × 0.9–1.5 mm, glandular-pubescent; corolla lavender to purple, with reddish purple nectar guides, bilabiate, not personate, funnelform, 16–20 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, densely white-lanate internally abaxially, tube 5–7 mm, throat gradually inflated, 5–6 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially; stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, navicular, 0.9–1.2 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures papillate; staminode 10–12 mm, included or reaching orifice, 0.4–0.5 mm diam., tip recurved, distal 5–6 mm ± villous, hairs golden yellow, to 1.5 mm; style 10–13 mm. Capsules 5–8 × 3–4 mm, glabrous.
Phenology: Flowering Jul–Aug.
Habitat: Cliffs, slopes, pine and spruce-fir forests.
Elevation: 2000–2900 m.
Discussion
Penstemon metcalfei is known from the Black Range in Grant and Sierra counties. It was synonymized with P. whippleanus by D. D. Keck (1945); T. K. Todsen (1998) enumerated clear differences between the two species.