Penstemon cyananthus

Stems decumbent to erect, 5–70(–90) cm, glabrous or sparsely to densely puberulent, not glaucous. Leaves basal and cauline, ± leathery or not, glabrous or basal ones sparsely to densely puberulent, not glaucous; basal and proximal cauline (20–)45–160 × 3–40(–55) mm, blade obovate to oblanceolate, base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute; cauline 1–6 pairs, sessile or proximals short- to long-petiolate, 16–100 × 5–45(–60) mm, blade ovate or oblanceolate to lanceolate, base cordate-clasping to clasping, apex obtuse to acute. Thyrses continuous or interrupted, cylindric to subsecund, 2–30 cm, axis glabrous, verticillasters 2–12, cymes 3–7-flowered, 2 per node; proximal bracts ovate to lanceolate, 7–80 × (1–)3–35 mm; peduncles and pedicels glabrous, peduncles to 20 mm, pedicels 1–9 mm. Flowers: calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 3–6.5 × 1.3–2.6 mm, apex acute to acuminate or cuspidate, glabrous; corolla blue to violet, without nectar guides, ventricose, 12–25(–28) mm, glabrous externally, glabrous internally, tube 6–11 mm, throat gradually inflated, not constricted at orifice, 6–11 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially; stamens included or longer pair reaching orifice, pollen sacs divergent, navicular, 1.2–2(–2.2) mm, dehiscing incompletely, proximal 1/4–1/3 indehiscent, connective not splitting, sides hispid, hairs white, to 0.5 mm, sutures denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm; staminode 11–14 mm, included or reaching orifice, 0.3–0.6 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, distal 6–9 mm sparsely to moderately pilose to lanate, hairs orange, yellow, or white, to 1 mm; style 9–16 mm. Capsules 7–15 × 5–10 mm.

Distribution

w United States.

Discussion

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

Penstemon compactus and P. longiflorus have been treated as elements of the P. cyananthus complex (F. W. Pennell 1920b; D. D. Keck 1940b). All of these taxa occur from the Wasatch Range northward into the Central Rocky Mountains.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Penstemon cyananthus var. cyananthus, Penstemon cyananthus var. judyae, Penstemon cyananthus var. subglaber

Key

1	Cauline leaf blades lanceolate to oblanceolate; calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, apices acute to cuspidate, rarely acuminate.	Penstemon cyananthus var. subglaber
1	Cauline leaf blades ovate to lanceolate; calyx lobes lanceolate, rarely ovate, apices acuminate, rarely acute.	> 2
2	Verticillasters 4–12; thyrses 4–30 cm; stems ascending to erect, 20–70(–90) cm; corollas 16–25(–28) mm.	Penstemon cyananthus var. cyananthus
2	Verticillasters 2 or 3; thyrses 2–6 cm; stems decumbent to ascending, 5–25(–32) cm; corollas 12–16(–20) mm.	Penstemon cyananthus var. judyae