Penstemon abietinus

Stems ascending to erect, 5–15(–23) cm, retrorsely hairy or puberulent, hairs pointed. Leaves not leathery, puberulent proximally, hairs pointed, sometimes only along margins, glabrous distally; cauline 2–7 pairs, petiolate or sessile, 7–17(–25) × 0.7–1.3(–1.7) mm, blade linear, rarely oblanceolate, base tapered, apex acute to mucronate. Thyrses continuous, secund, 2–8 cm, axis retrorsely hairy, hairs pointed, and, sometimes, sparsely glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 2–10, cymes 1–3(or 4)-flowered, 1(or 2) per node; proximal bracts linear, 11–21 × 1–1.4 mm; peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, retrorsely hairy, hairs pointed, and, sometimes, sparsely glandular-pubescent. Flowers: calyx lobes lanceolate, 4–5.5 × 1–1.6 mm, broadly scarious-margined, apex acuminate to caudate, sparsely glandular-pubescent, sometimes glabrate; corolla blue to bluish violet, lined internally abaxially with reddish violet nectar guides, funnelform, 12–15(–18) mm, glabrous or sparsely white-villous internally abaxially, tube 5–6 mm, throat gradually inflated, 6–7 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially; stamens: longer pair reaching orifice or exserted, filaments glabrous, pollen sacs widely divergent or opposite, navicular, 0.8–1.1 mm, sutures papillate; staminode 6–8 mm, included, flattened distally, 0.3–0.4 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, distal 6–7 mm densely pilose, hairs golden yellow, to 1.1 mm; style 11–13 mm. Capsules 4.5–7 × 2.8–3.5 mm.

Phenology: Flowering Jun–Jul.
Habitat: Limestone-derived soils in pinyon-juniper and oak-juniper woodlands.
Elevation: 1800–2600 m.

Utah.

Discussion

Penstemon abietinus is known from Emery, Iron, Sevier, and Utah counties. It bears a strong resemblance to erect varieties of P. crandallii in habit, leaf shape and pubescence, and corolla shape.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa