Penstemon hirsutus

Herbs. Stems ascending to erect, 30–80 cm, retrorsely hairy and sparsely to densely glandular-villous, not glaucous. Leaves basal and cauline, not leathery, glabrous or sparsely glandular-lanate along midveins, rarely moderately glandular-lanate; basal and proximal cauline 20–126 × 4–16 mm, blade spatulate to oblanceolate, lanceolate, spatulate, or elliptic, base tapered, margins entire or serrate to dentate, apex rounded to obtuse or acute; cauline 5–8(–10) pairs, sessile or short-petiolate, 20–130 × 2–30 mm, blade lanceolate to oblanceolate, base clasping or tapered, margins finely to coarsely serrate or dentate, apex acute to acuminate. Thyrses interrupted, conic, 6–37 cm, axis glandular-pubescent to glandular-lanate, verticillasters (3 or)4–8, cymes 2–11(–15)-flowered, 2 per node; proximal bracts lanceolate to linear, 8–60 × 1–6 mm, margins entire or ± serrate to dentate; peduncles and pedicels ascending, glandular-pubescent to glandular-lanate. Flowers: calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 4–7 × 1.5–2.3 mm, glandular-pubescent; corolla lavender or purplish, with or without faint violet nectar guides, bilabiate, personate, tubular, 20–26(–28) mm, glandular-pubescent externally, moderately to densely white-villous internally abaxially, tube 6–7 mm, throat slightly inflated, 6–8 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially; stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, navicular to subexplanate, 0.8–1 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures papillate; staminode 13–16 mm, exserted, 0.6–0.7 mm diam., tip straight, distal 11–14 mm moderately to densely villous, hairs yellowish, to 1.2 mm; style 16–18 mm. Capsules 6–9 × 5–6 mm, glabrous. 2n = 16.

Phenology: Flowering May–Jul.
Habitat: Sandy or rocky woods, rocky fields, bluffs, cliffs.
Elevation: 10–200 m.

Distribution

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Ont., Que., Conn., Del., D.C., Ill., Ind., Ky., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., N.J., N.Y., Ohio, Pa., R.I., Tenn., Vt., Va., W.Va., Wis.

Discussion

Penstemon hirsutus occurs widely in the northeastern United States, and in southern Ontario and Quebec. Its long, tubular, personate corollas and herbage with some stellate hairs may indicate a close relationship with P. oklahomensis and P. tenuiflorus.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.