Penstemon virens

Herbs. Stems ascending to erect, 10–40 cm, puberulent or retrorsely hairy proximally, rarely glabrous, glandular-pubescent distally, not glaucous. Leaves basal and cauline, not leathery, glabrous; basal and proximal cauline 20–102 × 4–15 mm, blade lanceolate to oblanceolate or spatulate, base tapered, margins serrulate or denticulate, sometimes entire, apex obtuse to acute; cauline (2 or)3–5 pairs, sessile, 18–50(–70) × 3–14 mm, blade ovate to lanceolate, base tapered to clasping, margins serrulate or denticulate, sometimes entire, apex acute to acuminate. Thyrses interrupted or continuous, cylindric, 5–18 cm, axis glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 3–6(–8), cymes 2–5-flowered, 2 per node; proximal bracts ovate to lanceolate, 6–40 × 2–10 mm, margins entire or serrulate to denticulate; peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, puberulent or glandular-pubescent. Flowers: calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 2–4.5 × 1.5–2.5 mm, glandular-pubescent; corolla blue to light purple or violet, with reddish purple to bluish purple nectar guides, funnelform, 10–16(–18) mm, glandular-pubescent externally, moderately white-pilose internally abaxially, tube 4–5 mm, throat 3–5 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially; stamens included, pollen sacs divergent to opposite, navicular, 0.6–0.8 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures smooth or ± papillate; staminode 8–10 mm, included or reaching orifice, 0.2–0.3 mm diam., tip straight to slightly recurved, distal 4–5 mm moderately to densely villous, hairs golden yellow, to 1.3 mm; style 8–11 mm. Capsules 5–7 × 2–3 mm, glabrous. 2n = 16.

Phenology: Flowering May–Aug.
Habitat: Rocky or gravelly soils, shortgrass prairies, foothills, and mountain meadows.
Elevation: 1600–2600 m.

Colo., Wyo.

Discussion

Penstemon virens is known in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains from Raton Mesa in south-central Colorado to the eastern Sierra Madre and Medicine Bow and Laramie mountains of southeastern Wyoming.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa