Stems prostrate, decumbent, ascending, or erect, 2–28 cm, retrorsely hairy or pubescent. Leaves not leathery, glabrous, glabrate, scabrous, or pubescent, hairs pointed; cauline (1 or)2–4 pairs, petiolate, (2–)4–47 × 0.5–8 mm, blade elliptic to obovate, oblanceolate, or linear, base tapered, apex acute to mucronate. Thyrses continuous, ± secund, 1–8(–16) cm, axis retrorsely hairy, hairs pointed and, usually, sparsely glandular-pubescent, verticillasters (1 or)2–8, cymes 1–4-flowered, 1 or 2 per node; proximal bracts oblanceolate to linear, 10–25 × 0.5–4 mm; peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, retrorsely hairy and, usually, sparsely glandular-pubescent. Flowers: calyx lobes lanceolate, 4–7(–7.5) × 0.9–1.8(–2.2) mm, broadly scarious-margined, apex acuminate to caudate, retrorsely puberulent, hairs pointed, and sparsely glandular-pubescent; corolla blue to violet or lavender, lined internally abaxially with violet or reddish purple nectar guides, funnelform, 14–20 mm, sparsely to densely yellow-lanate or yellow-pilose internally abaxially, tube 6–8 mm, throat gradually inflated, 6–8 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially; stamens: longer pair reaching orifice, filaments glabrous, pollen sacs opposite, navicular to subexplanate, 0.9–1.4 mm, sutures papillate; staminode 11–14 mm, reaching orifice or exserted, flattened distally, 0.3–0.4 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, distal 7–10 mm densely pilose, hairs golden yellow, to 1 mm; style 13–15 mm. Capsules 7–8 × 3.5–4.5 mm.

Distribution

w United States.

Discussion

Varieties 5 (5 in the flora).

Penstemon crandallii comprises five partly sympatric, sometimes intergrading varieties.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Penstemon crandallii var. atratus, Penstemon crandallii var. crandallii, Penstemon crandallii var. glabrescens, Penstemon crandallii var. procumbens, Penstemon crandallii var. ramaleyi

Key

1	Leaves glabrous or sparsely puberulent, especially along margins, blades obovate to elliptic; stems prostrate or decumbent; Colorado.	Penstemon crandallii var. procumbens
1	Leaves glabrate or scabrous to pubescent, blades linear, oblanceolate, or obovate; stems decumbent, ascending, or erect; Colorado, New Mexico, Utah.	> 2
2	Leaf blades obovate or oblanceolate; stems decumbent to ascending.	> 3
3	Leaves glabrate or scabrous, blades oblanceolate; Colorado, Utah.	Penstemon crandallii var. crandallii
3	Leaves ± scabrous, blades obovate or oblanceolate; Utah.	Penstemon crandallii var. atratus
2	Leaf blades linear to oblanceolate; stems ascending to erect.	> 4
4	Stems retrorsely hairy or puberulent, ascending to erect; Colorado, New Mexico.	Penstemon crandallii var. glabrescens
4	Stems puberulent to pubescent, erect; Colorado.	Penstemon crandallii var. ramaleyi