Flowers: pollen sacs usually explanate, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides usually densely lanate, (subexplanate, sides glabrous in P. personatus), sutures smooth; staminode included, length usually 1/3–3/4 times corolla throat. Seeds angled, wings absent or narrow.

Distribution

w North America.

Discussion

Species 10 (10 in the flora).

Subgenus Dasanthera appears to be the basal lineage in the clade corresponding to Penstemon (A. D. Wolfe et al. 2006). As circumscribed here, subg. Dasanthera comprises a single section, sect. Erianthera. Morphologic and molecular data indicate that the persistent-leaved lineage of the Sierra-Cascade is derived from the mostly deciduous-leaved lineage of the Rocky Mountains (A. D. Every 1977; S. L. Datwyler and Wolfe 2004).

Selected References

Datwyler, S. L. and A. D. Wolfe. 2004. Phylogenetic relationships and morphological evolution in Penstemon subg. Dasanthera (Veronicaceae). Syst. Bot. 29: 165–176.

Every, A. D. 1977. Biosystematics of Penstemon Subgenus Dasanthera—A Naturally Hybridizing Species Complex. Ph.D. dissertation. University of Washington.

Lower Taxa

Penstemon sect. Erianthera