Herbs. Stems ascending to erect, (30–)60–100 cm, slightly glaucous or not. Leaves: basal and proximal cauline 20–165 × 12–50 mm, blade ovate to lanceolate, base tapered, margins finely to coarsely dentate, apex obtuse to acute; cauline 4–7 pairs, sessile or proximals short-petiolate, 45–90 × 22–76 mm, blade ovate to triangular, base tapered or sessile on proximals, auriculate-clasping to connate-perfoliate on distal ones, margins finely to coarsely dentate, apex acute. Thyrses interrupted or continuous, secund, (6–)12–48 cm, axis glabrous, verticillasters 4–13, cymes 1–3(–6)-flowered; proximal bracts ovate (connate-perfoliate) or lanceolate (auriculate-clasping), (9–)16–55 × 10–60 mm; peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, glabrous or glandular-pubescent. Flowers: calyx lobes ovate, 3–5.5 × 2–3.2 mm, glabrous or glandular-pubescent; corolla rose pink, with reddish purple nectar guides, strongly bilabiate, ventricose, (18–)25–34 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, glandular-pubescent internally, tube 6–9 mm, length 1.6–2 times calyx lobes, throat gradually inflated, ± constricted at orifice, 7–10 mm diam., rounded abaxially; stamens: longer pair reaching orifice, filaments of shorter pair glandular-puberulent proximally, pollen sacs explanate, 1.5–2 mm, sutures smooth; staminode 11–17 mm, included, 0.2–0.4 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, glabrous or distal 1–2 mm sparsely to moderately lanate, hairs yellow, to 1 mm; style 20–25 mm, glabrous. Capsules 7–12 × 4–6 mm, glabrous.

Distribution

sw United States, n Mexico.

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Two varieties, distinguished on the basis of inflorescence indument, are largely allopatric. Penstemon ×crideri A. Nelson, a putative hybrid between P. eatonii and P. pseudospectabilis, has been reported from Arizona (A. Nelson 1936).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Penstemon pseudospectabilis var. connatifolius, Penstemon pseudospectabilis var. pseudospectabilis

Key

1	Peduncles, pedicels, and calyx lobes glandular-pubescent.	Penstemon pseudospectabilis var. pseudospectabilis
1	Peduncles, pedicels, and calyx lobes glabrous.	Penstemon pseudospectabilis var. connatifolius