Penstemon arenicola | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Plantaginaceae |
Genus: | Penstemon |
Species: | P. arenicola |
Binomial name | |
Penstemon arenicola | |
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.
Penstemon arenicola is a herbaceous plant with leaves that grow from its base and also from its flowering stems. [2] The plants are of a small size, [3] the flowering stems usually reaching just 7–18 centimeters (2+3⁄4–7 in), but occasionally as short as 4 cm (1+1⁄2 in) or as tall as 30 cm (12 in). [2] Its leaves and stems grow from a woody branched structure atop its taproot, called a caudex. [4]
The leaves are smooth and fleshy, with a blue-green color from being covered in natural waxes (glaucous). [3] The basal leaves and the ones lowest on the flowering stems are 2.1–7 centimeters long, but usually less than 5 cm. They are quite narrow, just 4–17 millimeters wide. They resemble a spoon or reversed spear head, with the widest portion towards the end of the leaf and either a rounded to pointed tip, sometimes with the midrib extending past the rest of the leaf blade. On the flowering stem there are two to five pairs of leaves. [2] The lower leaves are attached by a short leaf stem, a petiole, to the larger stem while the upper ones are sessile, with their base directly attached to the stem. [4]
The flowers are grouped in four to nine points along the stem called verticillasters where the flower stalks attach in a pair of spots on opposite sides of the stem. [4] They are packed closely together on the thyrse, [4] which may be 3–14 centimeters long. [2] The tubular flower may be 10–15 millimeters long and is blue to violet in color. [2] Outside the flower is hairless while the inside has sparsely scattered white hairs and red-violet nectar guide lines. The staminode is densely covered in golden hairs at its end and extends slightly beyond the opening of the flower. [4]
The seed capsules are 6–12 millimeters long and 5–6 mm wide. [2] The seeds contained within are 2–3 mm in size. [4]
This species was scientifically described by the botanist Aven Nelson in 1898. It has no botanical synonyms or subdivisions. [5] The first scientific collection was 1 June 1897 by Nelson near Point of Rocks, Wyoming. [6]
The species name, arenicola, means growing in sand in botanical Latin. [3] It has the common name Red Desert penstemon for the Red Desert region of Wyoming where it is found. [4] It is also sometimes known as sand penstemon, [7] however other species including Penstemon acuminatus and very commonly Penstemon ambiguus are also called this. [8] [9]
According to the USDA Penstemon arenicola grows in most of western Wyoming as well as the very nortwestern corner of Colorado in Moffat County and adjacent Daggett County and Uintah County, Utah. [7] It can be found between elevations of 1,800–2,400 meters (5,900–7,900 ft). [2]
The species prefers to grow in sandy soils or in broken shale rocks on plains, hills, and bluffs in sagebrush steppes. [4] It was last evaluated by NatureServe in 1992, at that time they evaluated it as globally "vulnerable" (G3). In Wyoming they list it as "apparently secure" (S4) and "critically imperiled" (S1) in Colorado. [1]
Red Desert penstemon is occasionally cultivated, both inside and outside its natural range by rock gardeners. In a garden setting they need a well draining growing medium such as sand or gravel in full sun. They are grown from seed, which require eight weeks of cool-moist stratification followed by variable temperatures to sprout. [3] A very small number of seeds, 17% in an experiment, will sprout when planted at 21 °C (70 °F). [10]
Penstemon strictus, the Rocky Mountain penstemon, is a penstemon with showy blue flowers.
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.
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.
Penstemon caesius, commonly known as the San Bernardino penstemon, is a low growing species of flowering plant. It is endemic to California, where it is known from the San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains, as well as the southern mountains of the Sierra Nevada. It is a member of the flora on rocky slopes and in coniferous forests and alpine habitat in the mountains.
Penstemon calcareus is a species of penstemon known by the common name limestone penstemon. It is native to California, where it is known from the deserts of central San Bernardino County, as well as the Death Valley area, where its distribution extends just over the border into Nevada. It grows in scrub and woodland, often on limestone substrates.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Townsendia grandiflora, commonly called largeflower ground-daisy, largeflower townsendia, or showy townsendia is an inconspcious plant of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and nearby shortgrass prairies. They are usually found in somewhat eroded or rocky areas such as the sides of hills, banks, and mesas. They are part of the Townsendia genus, which can be difficult for both amateur and expert botanists to correctly identify. A short-lived plant, they are nonetheless grown by rock garden enthusiasts for their relatively large daisy-like flowers.
Penstemon teucrioides, commonly known as grayleaf creeping penstemon, germander penstemon and germander beardtounge, is a perennial species of plant in the large and colorful Penstemon genus. It is a ground hugging plant that is native to just five counties in the mountains of Colorado. Though it has a very limited range it is widely grown in rock gardens.
Penstemon cyathophorus, commonly known as cupped penstemon or Middle Park penstemon, is a species of flowering plant that grows in a small area in the mountains of northern Colorado and a smaller area of southern Wyoming. As a rare species with a limited range it is vulnerable to human development. It is not a large plant and is often found growing amid sagebrush plants in mountain basins and valleys.
Sphaeralcea parvifolia, commonly called small-leaved globe-mallow or small-leaf globemallow, is a species of plant native to the western United States in the Great Basin and Colorado River drainage. It is medium sized herbaceous species that has showy orange flower spikes. It is used in wildflower and dry gardens.
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.
Penstemon yampaensis, the Yampa penstemon, is a rare species of plant from the western United States. It grows in the Yampa River drainage of Colorado and Wyoming and westward into Utah. It is one of the more unusual penstemons, having almost no stem. It is threatened from habitat disturbance, particularly the invasion of the non-native cheatgrass.
Penstemon watsonii is a flowering plant that grows largely in Nevada, Utah, and Colorado. It grows in dry rocky areas and has blue to violet flowers.
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.