| Penstemon cyanocaulis | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Plantaginaceae |
| Genus: | Penstemon |
| Species: | P. cyanocaulis |
| Binomial name | |
| Penstemon cyanocaulis | |
Penstemon cyanocaulis, the bluestem penstemon or bluestem beardtongue, is a perennial plant in the plantain family (Plantaginaceae) found in the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region of the southwestern United States.
Penstemon cyanocaulis is a herbaceous plant with stems that typically grow 20 to 60 centimeters (8 to 24 in) tall, but on occasion may be just 16 cm (6 in) at full growth. The stems either grow straight upward or out a short distance before growing upwards. The surface of the stems is mostly smooth and hairless, but they may be somewhat puberulent, covered in very short and fine hairs, towards their base. They are also more of less glaucous, covered in natural waxes making it appear blue-green. [2] Each plant may have many stems or only one that grow from a woody caudex with short branches. [3] Underground it has a thick taproot. [4]
The plants have both cauline and basal leaves, ones attached to the stems and those that grow directly from the base of the plant. The edges of its leaves are smooth, but often crisped, having curly edges. [4] The leaves may be leathery or not and also may be either smooth or have fine hairs at the base or just along the midvein. The basal and the lower cauline leaves are usually 5 to 9.5 centimeters in length, but occasionally just 3 cm. Their width is 1 to 2.8 cm, but usually narrower than 1.5 cm. Their shape ranges from spatulate to oblanceolate, spoon shaped to like a reversed spear point with the widest part past the middle, with a tapered base and a rounded to blunt tip. The stems will have two to four pairs of leaves. [2] The upper leaves are attached directly to the stem where the lower leaves have a narrow petiolar, stalk like, base. The upper leaves also often clasp the stem, somewhat. [3] They are lanceolate to elliptic, spear point shaped to having curved ellipse sides, and 2 to 7.3 cm long. They also can be significantly narrower at 0.4 to 1.5 cm in width. [2]
The inflorescence is the top 4 to 31 centimeters (1.5 to 12 in) of each stem. They will have five to twelve groups of flowers each with a pair of bracts underneath it. Each group will have a pair of cymes with one to five flowers. [2] The flowers all face in one direction or nearly in one direction away from the inflorescence. [4] The flowers are tubular and two lipped, the upper divided into two lobes and the lower with three. [3] Their color may be blue or violet with darker violet nectar guide lines and measure 1.4 to 2 centimeters long. [2] The staminode reaches the flower's opening and is covered in yellow-golden hairs towards its end. [4] Blooming may start as early as April or continue as late as July. [2]
Fruits are woody capsules that measure 6 to 10 millimeters long. [2]
Penstemon cyanocaulis is very similar to Penstemon strictiformis , which grows to the south. The bluestem penstemon can be distinguished by its broader leaves with leaf edges that are more wavy. [3]
Penstemon cyanocaulis was scientifically described and named by the botanist Edwin Blake Payson in 1915. It has no synonyms or varieties. [5]
The species name, cyanocaulis, is a compound of cyan and caul meaning blue stem, referring to the stem color. [6] Similarly in English it is known as bluestem penstemon or bluestem beardtongue. [3] [7]
The range of the species extends from west central Colorado across the boarder into five counties in eastern Utah. [7] In Utah they are found in the Canyon Lands, on slopes in the La Sal Mountains, and mesas near by or in Dead Horse Point State Park. In addition they grow at the edge of the desert on the north of Wasatch Plateau and the western side of Tavaputs Plateau. [4] In Colorado it is only found in the western parts of Mesa and Montrose counties and some parts of San Miguel County. [4] [7] The elevation range of the species starts at 1,300 meters (4,300 ft) and reaches 2,700 meters (8,900 ft). [2]
Plants grow in sandy soils and on rocky slopes. [3] [2] It can be found in blackbrush scrub, pinyon juniper woodland, and mountain bush communities. [6]
The conservation organization NatureServe evaluated Penstemon cyanocaulis in 1984 and rated it as secure (G5). They also evaluated it at the state level in Colorado and rated it vulnerable (S3). [1]
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 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.
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 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 deustus is a species of penstemon known by the common names hotrock penstemon and scabland penstemon. It is native to much of the northwestern United States from the Pacific Northwest to Wyoming, where it grows in many types of forest and open plateau habitat, often on soils heavy in volcanic rock or on limestone outcrops.
Penstemon eatonii is a species of flowering plant in the genus Penstemon, known by the common name firecracker penstemon. It is native to the Western United States from Southern California to the Rocky Mountains. It grows in many types of desert, woodland, forest, and open plateau habitat.
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 comarrhenus is a perennial plant in the plantain family (Plantaginaceae) found in the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region of the southwestern United States.
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 australis is a perennial plant native to the southeastern United States, with the common name Eustis Lake penstemon.
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 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 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 ophianthus, the coiled anther penstemon, is a species of small perennial plant in the plantain family. It has very noticeable dark violet lines on its flowers over a lighter blue-lavender color. The species grows in the plateaus and canyon lands of western Colorado and New Mexico, northern Arizona, and southern Utah.
