Penstemon montanus

Herbs or subshrubs, sometimes cespitose. Stems ascending to erect, 6–30 cm, pubescent, sometimes retrorsely hairy proximally and glandular-pubescent distally, not glaucous. Leaves deciduous, 4–7 pairs, distals seldom distinctly smaller than proximals, short-petiolate or sessile, 9–35(–56) × 7–17(–28) mm, blade obovate to oblanceolate, ovate, lanceolate, or elliptic, base tapered, cuneate, or cordate-clasping, margins entire, subentire, serrate, or dentate, apex obtuse to acute, glabrous, puberulent, or puberulent and glandular-pubescent, glaucous or not. Thyrses continuous, secund, 1–7 cm, axis sparsely to moderately glandular-pubescent, sometimes also pubescent proximally, verticillasters 1–5, cymes 1-flowered; proximal bracts ovate to lanceolate, 6–28 × 3–22 mm; peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, glandular-pubescent. Flowers: calyx lobes lanceolate to linear, 8–15 × 1.8–3.5 mm, glandular-pubescent; corolla lavender, blue, or violet, unlined internally or lined with faint lavender or blue nectar guides abaxially, not personate, funnelform, 26–33(–39) mm, glabrous externally, moderately to densely white-lanate internally abaxially, tube 7–9 mm, throat 8–10 mm diam.; stamens included, pollen sacs 1.1–1.6 mm; staminode 11–15 mm, slightly flattened distally, 0.1–0.3 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, glabrous or distal 3–6 mm pubescent, hairs white, to 1.4 mm; style 25–30 mm. Capsules 10–14 × 5–7 mm.

Distribution

w United States.

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Penstemon montanus is known from the Central and Northern Rocky mountains.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Penstemon montanus var. idahoensis, Penstemon montanus var. montanus

Key

1	Leaf blades puberulent and glandular-pubescent, not glaucous, blade margins serrate to dentate.	Penstemon montanus var. montanus
1	Leaf blades glabrous or puberulent, usually glaucous, blade margins entire or subentire.	Penstemon montanus var. idahoensis