Penstemon arenarius

Herbs. Caudex rhizomelike. Stems ascending to erect, 10–27 cm, glabrous, glutinous, usually covered with sand, not glaucous. Leaves cauline, leathery, glabrous, sometimes glutinous; cauline 3–5 pairs, short-petiolate or sessile, (12–)20–50(–55) × (3–)10–24 mm, blade obovate or spatulate proximally, obovate to lanceolate distally, base tapered, margins dentate, apex rounded to obtuse or acute. Thyrses continuous, cylindric, (1–)2–9 cm, axis glabrous or sparsely puberulent, glutinous, verticillasters 2–8, cymes 2–6-flowered, 2 per node; proximal bracts lanceolate, 16–58 × 3–12 mm, margins dentate; peduncles and pedicels erect, glabrous or puberulent, glutinous. Flowers: calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 4.5–8.4 × 1.6–3 mm, glutinous; corolla white to lavender, with reddish purple nectar guides, tubular-funnelform, 11–15(–18) mm, glabrous externally, sparsely white-pilose internally abaxially, tube 6–7 mm, throat gradually inflated, 3–5 mm diam., rounded abaxially; stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, navicular to subexplanate, 0.8–0.9 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures smooth; staminode 7–10 mm, included, 0.6–0.8 mm diam., tip slightly recurved, distal 0.5–2.5 mm sparsely pilose, hairs white, to 0.5 mm; style 7–8 mm. Capsules 5–8 × 4–5 mm, glabrous. 2n = 16.

Phenology: Flowering May–Jul.
Habitat: Loose sands, dunes, valleys, desert shrublands.
Elevation: 1200–1800 m.

Nev.

Discussion

Penstemon arenarius has been documented in Churchill, Mineral, and Nye counties. Plants usually are covered with sand because of their glutinous herbage.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa