Penstemon anguineus
Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 32: 208. 1905. (as Pentstemon)
Herbs. Stems ascending to erect, (10–)30–80 cm, glabrous, not glaucous. Leaves basal and cauline, not leathery, glabrous; basal and proximal cauline 30–150 × 6–40 mm, blade ovate to elliptic or oval, base tapered, margins serrate to dentate, sometimes denticulate or entire, apex obtuse to acute; cauline 2–4 pairs, sessile or proximals short-petiolate, 11–90 × 5–50 mm, blade oblanceolate to oblong or triangular-ovate, base tapered to cordate-clasping, margins serrate to denticulate, rarely entire, apex obtuse to acute. Thyrses interrupted, sometimes continuous, cylindric, (4–)8–40 cm, axis glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 3–10, cymes (2 or)3–15-flowered, 2 per node; proximal bracts ovate to triangular, 10–85 × 7–40 mm, margins serrate or entire; peduncles and pedicels ascending, glandular-pubescent. Flowers: calyx lobes lanceolate, 4–6.5 × 0.9–2 mm, glandular-pubescent; corolla light blue to lavender, purple, or violet, with violet nectar guides, ampliate, 13–18 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, glabrous or sparsely white-lanate internally abaxially, tube 5–7 mm, throat gradually inflated, 4–6 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially; stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, navicular, 0.8–1.2 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures papillate; staminode 10–13 mm, exserted, 0.2–0.4 mm diam., tip straight to slightly recurved, distal 2–6 mm glabrous or sparsely pilose, hairs yellow, to 0.6 mm; style 10–13 mm. Capsules 5–7 × 3–4 mm, glabrous. 2n = 16.
Phenology: Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat: Rocky, clayey, or humus soils, openings in coniferous forests.
Elevation: 600–2000 m.
Discussion
Penstemon anguineus occurs primarily in the Cascade, Klamath, and North Coast ranges from southwestern Oregon (Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, and Klamath counties) south into northwestern California (Del Norte, El Dorado, Glenn, Humboldt, Mendocino, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity counties).
Selected References
None.