Penstemon penlandii

Stems ascending to erect, 7–25 cm, retrorsely hairy or puberulent, not glaucous. Leaves basal and cauline, not leathery, puberulent or retrorsely hairy, not glaucous; basal and proximal cauline 15–80 × 0.8–2 mm, blade linear, base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute; cauline 1–3 pairs, sessile, 10–75 × 0.5–1.5 mm, blade linear, base tapered, apex acute. Thyrses continuous, secund, 3–10 cm, axis glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 2–6, cymes 1- or 2(–4)-flowered, 2 per node; proximal bracts linear, 10–56 × 0.5–1.5 mm; peduncles and pedicels glandular-pubescent. Flowers: calyx lobes lanceolate, 4.5–5.5 × 1.8–2.5 mm, glabrous to sparsely glandular; corolla blue to bluish violet, with reddish purple nectar guides, funnelform, 13–16 mm, glabrous externally, glabrous internally, tube 5–6 mm, throat gradually inflated, not constricted at orifice, 4.5–5.5 mm diam., rounded abaxially; stamens included, pollen sacs divergent to opposite, navicular, 1.1–1.5 mm, dehiscing incompletely, connective not splitting, sides moderately hirsute, hairs white, to 0.5 mm, sutures denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm; staminode 8–9 mm, included, 0.9–1.1 mm diam., tip straight, distal 6–7 mm densely pubescent, hairs yellowish orange, to 0.9 mm; style 8–10 mm. Capsules 6–9(–14) × 4–6 mm.

Phenology: Flowering Jun–Jul.
Habitat: Clayey soils, sagebrush shrublands.
Elevation: 2300–2400 m.

Colo.

Discussion

Penstemon penlandii is known from Middle Park in Grand County. Plants grow on strongly seleniferous shales of the Troublesome Formation (S. L. O’Kane 1988). The species is listed as endangered by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa