Penstemon acuminatus

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Penstemon acuminatus
Penstemon acuminatus-5-20-04.jpg
Status TNC G5.svg
Secure  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Penstemon
Species:
P. acuminatus
Binomial name
Penstemon acuminatus
Douglas ex Lindl., 1829
Varieties [2]
  • Penstemon acuminatus var. acuminatus
  • Penstemon acuminatus var. latibracteatus N.H.Holmgren
Synonyms [3]
  • Penstemon acuminatus var. fendleri M.E.Jones (1908)

Penstemon acuminatus is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common names sharpleaf penstemon and sand-dune penstemon. It is native to the dry interior of the northwestern United States.

Contents

Description

Penstemon acuminatus 1.jpg

Penstemon acuminatus is a short lived perennial plant that is herbaceous, lacking woody stems and may have one or more flowering stems on mature plants. [4] Its flowering stems grow straight upwards or out from the base for a short distance before growing upwards, usually reaching 20 to 60 centimeters (8 to 24 in) in height, but occasionally as short as 9 cm (4 in). [5]

The cauline and basal leaves are usually 3–9.5 centimeters long, but may occasionally be as short as 1.4 cm. [5] They may clasp the stem at their bases. The fleshy leaves and the stem may be waxy in texture. Arranged in whorls near the ends of the stems, [6] the tubular blue, purple, or violet flowers are up to 2 cm long. [5] They have wide throats and flaring corollas. The staminode has a beard of yellow hairs. [4]

This species is used for revegetation of wildlife habitat, for landscaping and gardens, and for seeding roadsides. [4]

Taxonomy

Penstemon acuminatus was scientifically described by the botanist John Lindley in 1829, but he attributed this description to David Douglas. It has two accepted varieties. [2]

Penstemon acuminatus var. acuminatus

The autonymic variety is the one first described as a species. One additional variety of Penstemon acuminatus was described in 1908 by Marcus E. Jones, but this is not recognized as valid and considered to be a botanical synonym. [3] It grows in the state of Washington and Oregon east of the Cascade Range. [7]

Penstemon acuminatus var. latibracteatus

This variety was described by Noel Herman Holmgren in 1979 with its present name. [8] It grows east of the Cascades in Oregon, throughout much of Nevada, and in the southern part of Idaho. [9]

Names

In English it is known by the common name sharpleaf penstemon. It is alternately known as the sand penstemon or sand-dune penstemon. [4]

Range and habitat

The sharpleaf penstemon grows in the interior of four western states. It native range extends over the eastern, dry portions of Oregon and Washington states from as far north as Douglas County, Washington. To the east it reaches into southern Idaho as far east as Lemhi County and Oneida County. In Nevada it ranges through much of the state as far south as Nye County. [10] It may also grow in a small portion of northern Utah. [4]

This plant grows in sandy habitat types, such as dunes. [4]

See also

List of Penstemon species

Related Research Articles

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Penstemon barbatus, known by the common names golden-beard penstemon, and beardlip penstemon, is a flowering plant native to the western United States.

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Aconitum columbianum is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family known by the common names Columbian monkshood or western monkshood.

<i>Penstemon anguineus</i> Plant species in the plantain family

Penstemon anguineus is a species of penstemon known by the common name Siskiyou penstemon. It is native to the mountains of southern Oregon and northern California, where it grows in coniferous forests, often in open areas left by logging operations.

<i>Penstemon azureus</i> Plant species in the plantain family

Penstemon azureus is a flowering plant species known by the common name azure penstemon.

<i>Penstemon barnebyi</i> Plant species in the plantain family

Penstemon barnebyi is a species of penstemon known by the common names White River Valley beardtongue and Barneby's beardtongue. It is native to the mountain and basin territory of central western Nevada, where it grows in sagebrush and woodland; there is also one occurrence just over the California border.

<i>Penstemon bicolor</i> Plant species in the plantain family

Penstemon bicolor is a species of penstemon known by the common name pinto penstemon. It is native to the desert mountains and valleys of southern Nevada, eastern California, and western Arizona, where it grows in scrub, woodland, and other local habitat. It is a perennial herb which may exceed one meter in maximum height.

<i>Penstemon centranthifolius</i> Plant species in the plantain family

Penstemon centranthifolius is a species of penstemon known by the common name scarlet bugler. It is native to California and parts of Mexico, where it grows in many types of dry habitat from coast to desert, such as chaparral and oak woodland.

<i>Penstemon cinicola</i> Plant species in the plantain family

Penstemon cinicola is a species of penstemon known by the common name ash penstemon. It is native to northeastern California and southern Oregon, where it grows in forests and plateau habitat.

<i>Penstemon grandiflorus</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae

Penstemon grandiflorus, known by the common names shell-leaved penstemon, shell-leaf beardtongue, or large-flowered penstemon, is a tall and showy plant in the Penstemon genus from the plains of North America. Due to its large flowers it has found a place in gardens, particularly ones aimed at low water usage like xeriscape gardens.

<i>Penstemon canescens</i> Plant species in the plantain family

Penstemon canescens is a species of penstemon in the family Plantaginaceae. P. canescens is known by the common names gray beardtongue or Appalachian beardtongue. It is native to woodlands, forest edges, and roadsides of the southeastern United States and flowers May through July. It is a perennial herb producing stems reaching 80 centimeters in maximum height.

<i>Tetraneuris acaulis</i> Species of flowering plant in the sunflower family

Tetraneuris acaulis is a North American species of flowering plants in the sunflower family. It is known by many common names in English including stemless four-nerve daisy, stemless hymenoxys, butte marigold, and stemless rubberweed.

<i>Penstemon australis</i> Plant species in the plantain family

Penstemon australis is a perennial plant native to the southeastern United States, with the common name Eustis Lake penstemon.

<i>Penstemon albidus</i> Species of flowering plant

Penstemon albidus, commonly known as white penstemon, white-flower beardtongue, or Red-Line Beardtongue is a very widespread perennial flower of the mixed-grass and shortgrass prairies. Its natural distribution is from Manitoba and Alberta in Canada to Texas and New Mexico in the United States. The bright white flowers for which they are named are quite attractive to both bees and hummingbird moths.

<i>Penstemon secundiflorus</i> Species of flowering plant

Penstemon secundiflorus, commonly known as sidebells penstemon, or orchid beardtoungue is a species of Penstemon that grows in dry forests, high plains, and scrub lands from Wyoming to Mexico. It is a herbaceous perennial plant that typically grows to a height of 20 to 50 cm and has narrow, lance-shaped leaves that are grayish-green in color. The flowers of the sidebells penstemon are tubular in shape and are arranged in a one-sided spike, with the blooms all facing the same direction, and for this reason was named "secundiflorus", which means "one-sided flowers". The flowers are most often delicate shades of orchid or lavender. It is sometimes used in xeriscaping, rock gardens, and wildflower meadows, and is well-suited to dry, sunny locations with well-draining soil.

<i>Penstemon ambiguus</i> Species of flowering plant

Penstemon ambiguus, commonly known as the bush penstemon, pink plains penstemon, or gilia beardtongue is a species of Penstemon that grows in the shortgrass prairies and deserts of the western United States and northern Mexico. This bush-like penstemon grows in sandy, loose, and creosote soils and is particularly known for the spectacular flowering show it produces, sometime seasons turning whole hillsides bright pink–white.

<i>Penstemon caespitosus</i> Plant species in the plantain family

Penstemon caespitosus, commonly known as mat penstemon, is a summer blooming perennial flower in the large Penstemon genus. It is a widespread plant from near timberline to the foothills in the Southern Rocky Mountains and Colorado Plateau in North America. It is noted for its ground hugging growth habit and as a plant used in xeriscape and rock gardening.

<i>Penstemon arenicola</i> Plant species in the family

Penstemon arenicola, commonly known as Red Desert penstemon, is a species of plant from the Western United States. It primarily grows in Wyoming, but it also grows in small areas of Colorado and Utah. It is a short plant known for growing in sand as referenced by its scientific name.

<i>Penstemon albifluvis</i> Plant species in the plantain family

Penstemon albifluvis, the White River penstemon, is a disputed species or variety of Penstemon that grows in a small area in eastern Utah and western Colorado. It grows mainly on broken shale and rock formations in desert habitats. White River penstemon is very rare.

<i>Penstemon breviculus</i> Plant species in the plantain family

Penstemon breviculus, the narrow-mouth penstemon or shortstem penstemon, is a species of perennial flowering plant from the dry forests and steppes of the Colorado Plateau in the western United States.

<i>Penstemon crandallii</i> Plant species in the family

Penstemon crandallii, also known as Crandall's penstemon, is a species of penstemon that grows in western Colorado and small parts of New Mexico and Utah. It is a low growing plant with blue to purple flowers.

References

  1. NatureServe (2024). "Penstemon acuminatus". Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Penstemon acuminatus Douglas ex Lindl". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Penstemon acuminatus var. acuminatus". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 St. John, Loren; Ogle, Dan; Shaw, Nancy L. "Sharpleaf Penstemon" (PDF). Fact Sheets & Plant Guides. United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Reserouces Conservation Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 Freeman, Craig C. (29 July 2020). "Penstemon acuminatus". Flora of North America . Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  6. Taylor, Ronald J. (1994) [1992]. Sagebrush Country: A Wildflower Sanctuary (rev. ed.). Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Pub. Co. p. 50. ISBN   0-87842-280-3. OCLC   25708726.
  7. Penstemon acuminatus var. acuminatus, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Profile, 18 October 2024
  8. "Penstemon acuminatus var. latibracteatus N.H.Holmgren". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  9. Penstemon acuminatus var. latebracteatus, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Profile, 18 October 2024
  10. Penstemon acuminatus, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Profile, 18 October 2024