familyPlantaginaceae
genusPenstemon
subgenusPenstemon subg. Penstemon
sectionPenstemon sect. Glabri
speciesPenstemon glaber
Penstemon glaber var. alpinus
Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts. 6: 60. 1862. (as Pentstemon)
IllustratedEndemic
Basionym: Penstemon alpinus Torrey Ann. Lyceum Nat. Hist. New York 1: 35. 1823
Synonyms: P. alpinus subsp. magnus (Pennell) Penland
Stems glabrous or puberulent proximally. Flowers: calyx lobes ovate, 3.8–9.5 × 1.3–3.3 mm, apex long-acuminate; corolla 24–35 mm, sparsely to moderately white-lanate internally abaxially; staminode apex rounded or bifurcate. 2n = 16.
Phenology: Flowering Jun–Aug(–Sep).
Habitat: Sandy or gravelly slopes and banks in shortgrass prairies, foothills, mountains.
Elevation: 1500–2900 m.
Distribution
Colo., Nebr., N.Mex., Wyo.
Discussion
Variety alpinus occurs in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains on gravelly, granitic slopes, and roadcuts. The type of Penstemon magnus Pennell, on which P. alpinus subsp. magnus is based, was collected in Jackson County, Colorado. The specimen is in poor condition but has calyx lobes to 8 mm with apices short- to long-acuminate; it is tentatively assigned here.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
None.