Penstemon cyathophorus

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Penstemon cyathophorus
Penstemon cyathophorus - Anders Hastings 01.jpg
Penstemon cyathophorus blooming in Grand County, Colorado
Status TNC G3.svg
Vulnerable  (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. cyathophorus
Binomial name
Penstemon cyathophorus

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.

Contents

Description

Penstemon cyathophorus is a modest sized plant, averaging 19–42 centimeters in height, but occasionally growing to just 13 cm. The stems are round in cross section and grow straight upwards from the base of the plant. [2] It is a perennial plant that grows as clump of plants from entagled roots ( cespitose ). [3] Both the stems and the leaves are hairless and smooth in texture. [2]

Both basal leaves and ones attached directly to the flower stems are present in Penstemon cyathophorus. [3] The leaves at the base of the plant and also the lowest of the cauline leaves are similar in shape and size, 13–57 millimeters long and 4–19 mm in width. They may be spoon shaped with a narrow neck and wide end or have widened end but only tapering towards the base (oblanceolate). [2] The ends of the leaves may be rounded, come to sharp point, or even have the central vein project slightly beyond the leaf blade. [3]

Photograph showing the stamens exserted out of the flower mouth Penstemon cyathophorus - Anders Hastings 03.jpg
Photograph showing the stamens exserted out of the flower mouth

The flowers are variously describe as pink-purple, lavender, or lavender-blue in color and do not have any nectar guide lines. [2] [3] They are shapes like a broad, fairly open funnel. [3] The overall length of the flower is may be 11–14 millimeters long. [2] A distinctive feature of the flower is that the four stamens extend out of the opening of the flower, a somewhat unusual feature in a penstemon. [4] Entirely uniquely for a member of its genus, the staminode with its golden hairs has its end against the upper side of the flower tube rather than against the lower side. [2]

The fruit is a capsule 5–6 millimeters in height and 4–5 mm wide. [2]

Penstemon cyathophorus is very similar to Penstemon harringtonii , which also has two of its stamens extending out of its flowers and grows nearby. [4] However, generally the cupped penstemon grows to the northeast and the flower are shorter than P. harringtonii's 17–24 millimeters. [4] [5] It also resembles Penstemon acuminatus , [3] however their ranges do not overlap and only P. harringtonii and P. cyathophorus lack nectar guides. [5]

Taxonomy

Penstemon cyathophorus was scientifically described as a species in 1905 by the botanist Per Axel Rydberg, [6] though using the then current spelling of Pentstemon with an extra "t". [3] It has no botanical synonyms or subspecies. It is part of the large Penstemon genus in the plantain family, Plantaginaceae. [6] The first specimen of this species was collected in Colorado in 1901 by Frank Tweedy. [3]

Genetic testing has confirmed that the close relationship of the species to Penstemon harringtonii within a group of penstemons also including Penstemon acuminatus, Penstemon arenicola , and Penstemon flowersii . [7]

Names

It has large bracts under its groups of flowers that look somewhat cup like and for this reason it was given the botanical Greek name cyathophorus, meaning "cup bearing". This species is known by several common names in English. It is called the cupped penstemon, a translation of its scientific name and Middle Park penstemon for the place it was first collected. [4] In addition it is called sagebrush beardtounge, [2] however it at least occasionally shares this name with Penstemon speciosus . [8] The American Penstemon Society also uses the name North Park penstemon for this species. [9]

Range and habitat

Penstemon cyathophorus has a limited range, [1] sources in agree that it grows in Summit, Grand, and Jackson County in Colorado and also in Carbon County, Wyoming. [1] [2] [10] The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS database additionally records it in Sweetwater County, Wyoming as does the Colorado Native Plant Society. [10] [4] In Colorado it grows amid the sagebrush in Middle Park and in North Park, two flat basins surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. In Wyoming they grow in the on the Sierra Madre Range and North Platte River Valley. [1] They grow between 2100–2900 meters in elevation in rocky clay loam soils. [2] [11]

Most populations of the plant are in North Park with smaller numbers in outlying areas. It grows scattered amid the sagebrush and also in lower mountain meadows. [4] In 2018 NatureServe evaluated it as vulnerable (G3), as a plant that has a limited distribution and may face increasing threats due to oil and gas development. At the state level they gave it the same status in Colorado and ranked it as imperiled (S2) in Wyoming. [1]

Ecology

Observations of mule deer in an enclosure in Middle Park found that they almost never eat cupped penstemon. [12]

Penstemon cyathophorus displays resistance to sprouting if its seeds have not been cold-moist stratified by planting them at 4.5 °C (40 °F) or outdoors in cool spring weather. When planted at 21 °C (70 °F) without any treatment no seeds sprouted after eight weeks. Treatment with the plant hormone gibberellic acid also released the seeds from dormancy, 100% sprouting in two to four weeks without cold treatment. Seeds dry stored for two years had 21% germination rate after three days in a test where they were cold treated for three months before being moved to a greenhouse at 21 °C. [13]

See also

List of Penstemon species

Related Research Articles

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

Penstemon virens, commonly known as blue mist penstemon, Front Range penstemon, or Green beardtongue, is a common Penstemon in the Front Range foothills in Colorado and Wyoming. The dainty flowers are an ornament to many rocky or sandy area within its range. It is confusingly similar to Penstemon humilis and Penstemon albertinus though the ranges of these plants do not overlap in the wild. The origin of calling it the "blue mist penstemon" is not precisely known, but is thought to relate to the large number of blue flowers the plant can produce reminding observers of a blue mist.

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

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<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> Species of flowering plant

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>Castilleja rhexiifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Penstemon teucrioides</i> Colorado endemic species of penstemon

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.

<i>Trifolium parryi</i> Plant species in the clover genus

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<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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 NatureServe (2024). "Penstemon cyathophorus". Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Freeman, Craig C. (5 November 2020). "Penstemon cyathophorus - FNA". Flora of North America. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Rydberg, Per Axel (1904). "Studies on the Rocky Mountain Flora - XIII". Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. 31 (12). Torrey Botanical Club: 643. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Colorado Native Plant Society; Rocky Mountain Nature Association (1997). Rare Plants of Colorado (Second ed.). Helena, Montana: Falcon Press. p. 72. ISBN   978-1-56044-529-6 . Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  5. 1 2 Freeman, Craig C. (5 November 2020). "Penstemon sect. Coerulei - FNA". Flora of North America. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Penstemon cyathophorus Rydb". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  7. ↑ Wessinger, Carolyn A.; Freeman, Craig C.; Mort, Mark E.; Rausher, Mark D.; Hileman, Lena C. (2016). "Multiplexed shotgun genotyping resolves species relationships within the North American genus Penstemon". American Journal of Botany. 103 (5): 912–922. doi:10.3732/ajb.1500519. ISSN   0002-9122. JSTOR   44252575. PMC   10874106 . PMID   27208359 . Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  8. ↑ Shaw, Nancy L.; Guck, Corey L. (2018). "Royal Penstemon" (PDF). Western Forbs. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  9. ↑ "Colorado's North and Middle Parks" (PDF). American Penstemon Society. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  10. 1 2 Penstemon cyathophorus, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Profile, 11 July 2024
  11. ↑ "Penstemon cyathophorus". Wolfe Lab. Ohio State University. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  12. ↑ Wallmo, O. C.; Gill, R. B.; Carpenter, L. H.; Reichert, D. W. (October 1973). "Accuracy of Field Estimates of Deer Food Habits". The Journal of Wildlife Management. 37 (4): 556. doi:10.2307/3800322. JSTOR   3800322 . Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  13. ↑ Love, Stephen L; Akins, Candace J (2020). "Fifth summary of the native seed germination studies of Norman C Deno: species with names beginning with letters P and Q". Native Plants Journal. 21 (1): 89. doi:10.3368/npj.21.1.83.
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