Penstemon pseudospectabilis

M. E. Jones

Contr. W. Bot. 12: 66. 1908. (as Pentstemon)

Common names: Mojave beardtongue
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 17. Treatment on page 253. Mentioned on page 148, 245, 246, 247.

Herbs. Stems ascending to erect, (30–)60–100 cm, slightly glaucous or not. Leaves: basal and proximal cauline 20–165 × 12–50 mm, blade ovate to lanceolate, base tapered, margins finely to coarsely dentate, apex obtuse to acute; cauline 4–7 pairs, sessile or proximals short-petiolate, 45–90 × 22–76 mm, blade ovate to triangular, base tapered or sessile on proximals, auriculate-clasping to connate-perfoliate on distal ones, margins finely to coarsely dentate, apex acute. Thyrses interrupted or continuous, secund, (6–)12–48 cm, axis glabrous, verticillasters 4–13, cymes 1–3(–6)-flowered; proximal bracts ovate (connate-perfoliate) or lanceolate (auriculate-clasping), (9–)16–55 × 10–60 mm; peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, glabrous or glandular-pubescent. Flowers: calyx lobes ovate, 3–5.5 × 2–3.2 mm, glabrous or glandular-pubescent; corolla rose pink, with reddish purple nectar guides, strongly bilabiate, ventricose, (18–)25–34 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, glandular-pubescent internally, tube 6–9 mm, length 1.6–2 times calyx lobes, throat gradually inflated, ± constricted at orifice, 7–10 mm diam., rounded abaxially; stamens: longer pair reaching orifice, filaments of shorter pair glandular-puberulent proximally, pollen sacs explanate, 1.5–2 mm, sutures smooth; staminode 11–17 mm, included, 0.2–0.4 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, glabrous or distal 1–2 mm sparsely to moderately lanate, hairs yellow, to 1 mm; style 20–25 mm, glabrous. Capsules 7–12 × 4–6 mm, glabrous.

Distribution

Ariz., Calif., N.Mex., Utah, n Mexico.

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Two varieties, distinguished on the basis of inflorescence indument, are largely allopatric. Penstemon ×crideri A. Nelson, a putative hybrid between P. eatonii and P. pseudospectabilis, has been reported from Arizona (A. Nelson 1936).

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Peduncles, pedicels, and calyx lobes glandular-pubescent. Penstemon pseudospectabilis var. pseudospectabilis
1 Peduncles, pedicels, and calyx lobes glabrous. Penstemon pseudospectabilis var. connatifolius