Penstemon mensarum
Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 20: 380. 1920.
Stems erect, 25–90 cm, glabrous, slightly glaucous or not. Leaves basal and cauline, not leathery, glabrous, not glaucous; basal and proximal cauline 28–145 × 4–30 mm, blade oblong to oblanceolate or elliptic, base tapered, margins entire, apex acute; cauline 2–4(or 5) pairs, sessile, rarely short-petiolate, 20–135 × 4–31 mm, blade lanceolate, proximals sometimes oblanceolate, base tapered to cordate-clasping, apex acute to acuminate. Thyrses interrupted, secund, 10–56 cm, axis ± glandular-pubescent at least distally, verticillasters 4–12, cymes (1 or)2–6-flowered, 2 per node; proximal bracts lanceolate, 10–58 × 10–85 mm; peduncles and pedicels glandular-pubescent, sometimes sparsely so. Flowers: calyx lobes oblong-ovate, 3.5–5.8 × 1.2–2.1 mm, glandular-pubescent; corolla blue to purple or violet, with faint reddish purple nectar guides, ventricose, 16–25 mm, ± glandular-pubescent externally, glabrous or sparsely glandular internally, tube 5–8 mm, throat gradually inflated, not constricted at orifice, 6–10 mm diam., rounded abaxially; stamens included, pollen sacs divergent to nearly opposite, navicular, 0.8–1.4 mm, dehiscing incompletely, connective not splitting, sides sparsely to moderately hispid, hairs white or yellowish, to 0.2 mm, sutures papillate or denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm; staminode 9–11 mm, included, 0.4–0.5 mm diam., tip straight, distal 7–9 mm sparsely to moderately villous, hairs yellow, to 1 mm; style 9–11 mm. Capsules 8–10 × 4–6 mm.
Phenology: Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat: Sagebrush shrublands, openings in aspen woodlands.
Elevation: 2200–3000 m.
Discussion
Penstemon mensarum is known from Delta, Gunnison, Mesa, Montrose, and Pitkin counties.
Selected References
None.