| Penstemon comarrhenus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Plantaginaceae |
| Genus: | Penstemon |
| Species: | P. comarrhenus |
| Binomial name | |
| Penstemon comarrhenus A.Gray, 1877 | |
Penstemon comarrhenus (dusty penstemon or dusty beardtongue) is a perennial plant in the plantain family (Plantaginaceae) found in the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region of the southwestern United States.
Penstemon comarrhenus is a herbaceous plant with stems that either grow straight upwards or out a short distance before curving to grow upwards. They usually reach 40 to 80 centimeters (1.3 to 2.6 ft) in height, but may be as short as 18 cm (7 in) or as tall as 120 cm (3.9 ft) when full grown. [2] Plants may have a single stem or multiple stems and are usually hairless, but on occasion will be puberulent, covered in very fine and short hairs, low down on the plant. [3]
Plants have both basal and cauline leaves, those that grow directly from the base of the plant or are attached to the stems. Most often are hairless or have a sparse covering of retrorse, backwards facing, hairs, but on occasion they may be quite retrorsely hairly. The basal leaves and the ones lowest on the stems are 4 to 12 centimeters long, but usually no longer than 8 cm. They are 0.7 to 3 cm wide, though most often less than 2 cm. Their shape varies from obovate to oblanceolate, like a teardrop or a reversed spear head with the narrower part towards the plant. [2] The lower leaves are attached by petioles while those higher up on the plant attach directly to the stem and become more narrow and grass like as well. [3]
The inflorescence tends to have all of its flowers facing one direction. [3] It typically makes up the top 15 to 32 centimeters of the stem, though occasionally they are as short as 12 cm. There are six to twelve groups of flowers attached to the inflorescence each with two bracts and two cymes. Each cyme may have up to five flowers, thought usually just one or two. Each flower is pale white blue, blue tinted slightly pink, or lavender with violet nectar guides. They are 25 to 38 millimeters long. [2] The staminode does not extend out of the flower and is hairless or only has a few sparse hairs. [3] They bloom as early as June and as late as August. [2]
Fruits are small capsules 7 to 15 millimeters in length. [2]
The scientific description and name of Penstemon comarrhenus was published by Asa Gray in 1877. It has no synonyms or lower taxonomic divisions. [4]
The species name, comarrhenus, is a compound of the words for hair and male, referring to very hairy anthers. [3] In English it is known by the common names dusty penstemon or dusty beardtongue. [5] [3]
The native range of the Dusty penstemon extends across five US states in the southwest. In Colorado it grows only the west from Mesa County southwards to the Four Corners. In New Mexico it is found in the northwestern corner of the state in San Juan and Rio Arriba counties. The Arizonan range is in the north while it extends across the southern half of Utah. West of this it is only recorded in Lincoln County, Nevada. [6]
It can be found in pinyon juniper woodland, mountain brush, ponderosa pine forest, and Douglas fir and aspen forest communities. [3]
Penstemon comarrhenus was evaluated by NatureServe in 1984 and rated as secure (G5). At the state level it was rated as vulnerable (S3) in New Mexico and critically imperiled (S1) in Nevada. The rest of its range has not been evaluated. [1]
Bees are the primary pollinator. [5]
Penstemon barbatus, known by the common names golden-beard penstemon, and beardlip penstemon, is a flowering plant native to the western United States.
Penstemon albomarginatus is a rare species of penstemon known by the common name white-margined penstemon. It is native to the deserts of southern Nevada, western Arizona, and southern California.
Penstemon azureus is a flowering plant species known by the common name azure penstemon. It is native to the mountains of Oregon and northern California. It grows in coniferous forests and woodlands in the Klamath Mountains, North California Coast Ranges, Southern Cascade Range, and Northern Sierra Nevada.
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 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 clevelandii is a species of penstemon known by the common name Cleveland penstemon. It is native to southern California and Baja California, where it grows in mountain and desert habitat such as scrub, woodland, and chaparral.
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 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.
Penstemon angustifolius is a perennial semi-evergreen forb belonging to the plantain family. This species is 1 out of roughly 273 species of Penstemon. This species is also known as broadbeard beardtongue. This forb is native to central United States and can be noticed by its brightly and highly variable colored flowers.
Penstemon cyaneus is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common names blue penstemon and dark blue penstemon. It is native to the western United States, where it is widespread in Idaho and also found in parts of Montana and Wyoming.
Penstemon cobaea is a flowering plant in the plantain family, commonly known as Cobaea beardtongue, prairie penstemon or foxglove penstemon. The plant is native to the central United States, primarily the Great Plains from Nebraska to Texas, with additional populations in the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas. There are also populations reported in the southwestern United States as well as in Illinois and Ohio, but these appear to be introductions.
Penstemon brevisepalus, commonly known as short-sepaled beardtongue, is an herbaceous plant in the plantain family. It is a perennial that produces pale lavender flowers in late spring.
Penstemon calycosus, commonly called long-sepal beardtongue, is a species of plant in the plantain family (Plantaginaceae). It is native to eastern North America, where it native to the Upper South and Midwestern United States. It expanded its range into the northeast United States in the early 20th century. Its natural habitat is in open woodlands, prairies, and bluffs, often over limestone.
Penstemon australis is a perennial plant native to the southeastern United States, with the common name Eustis Lake penstemon.
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 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 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.
