Penstemon strictus

Stems ascending to erect, (20–)35–70(–90) cm, glabrous or ± puberulent proximally, rarely distinctly puberulent, not glaucous. Leaves basal and cauline, ± leathery or not, glabrous except for antrorsely-scabrous margins or ± puberulent proximally, rarely distinctly puberulent, not glaucous; basal and proximal cauline (30–)50–150 × 5–16(–20) mm, blade oblanceolate, base tapered, margins entire, apex rounded to obtuse; cauline 4–8 pairs, sessile, 40–100 × 2–7(–10) mm, blade lanceolate to linear, base tapered, apex acuminate. Thyrses interrupted to ± continuous, secund, (3–)9–40 cm, axis glabrous, verticillasters 4–10(–13), cymes 1- or 2(–4)-flowered, 2 per node; proximal bracts lanceolate to linear, 10–65 × 1–8 mm, apex acuminate; peduncles and pedicels glabrous, peduncles to 27 mm, pedicels 1–20 mm. Flowers: calyx lobes ovate, (2.5–)3–5 × 1.3–2.5 mm, apex acute, sometimes acuminate or obtuse, glabrous; corolla purple to violet or blue, with violet nectar guides, ventricose-ampliate, (18–)24–32 mm, glabrous externally, glabrous internally, tube 4–7 mm, throat gradually inflated, slightly constricted at orifice, 6–10(–12) mm diam., slightly 2-ridged abaxially; stamens: longer pair slightly exserted, pollen sacs divergent to opposite, navicular-sigmoid, 1.7–2.4 mm, dehiscing incompletely, proximal 1/4 sometimes indehiscent, connective not splitting, sides moderately to densely lanate to villous, hairs white, to 1.8 mm, sutures denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm; staminode 11–14 mm, included, 0.5–0.8 mm diam., tip straight, glabrous or distal 1–5 mm sparsely villous, hairs yellow or orange, to 0.7 mm; style 17–21 mm. Capsules 7–13 × 4–7 mm. 2n = 16.

Phenology: Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat: Gravelly sagebrush shrublands, pinyon-juniper woodlands, oak woodlands, spruce-aspen forests.
Elevation: 1700–3500 m.

Ariz., Calif., Colo., N.Mex., Utah, Wyo.

Discussion

A disjunct population of Penstemon strictus in Mono County, California, appears to be an introduction, and collections from some counties in east-central Colorado (Arapahoe) and northeastern New Mexico (Harding and Union) also probably are due to recent introductions. Penstemon strictus is a popular ornamental; it has been seeded along some highways in Arizona, Colorado, and Wyoming.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa