Penstemon digitalis

Last updated

Foxglove beard-tongue
Penstemon digitalis.jpg
At Boyle Park in Little Rock, Arkansas
Status TNC G5.svg
Secure  (NatureServe)
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. digitalis
Binomial name
Penstemon digitalis
Nutt. ex Sims
Synonyms [1]
List
    • Chelone digitalis (Nutt.) Sweet (1825)
    • Penstemon alluviorum Pennell (1933)
    • Penstemon digitalis var. albidus Trautv. (1839)
    • Penstemon digitalis f. baueri Steyerm. (1941)
    • Penstemon digitalis var. latifolius Regel (1867)
    • Penstemon laevigatus subsp. alluviorum (Pennell) R.W.Benn. (1963)
    • Penstemon laevigatus subsp. digitalis (Nutt.) R.W.Benn. (1963)
    • Penstemon laevigatus var. digitalis (Nutt.) A.Gray (1878)

Penstemon digitalis (known by the common names foxglove beard-tongue, [2] foxglove beardtongue, talus slope penstemon, [3] and white beardtongue [4] ) is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family, Plantaginaceae. The flowers are white and are borne in summer. It is native to eastern Canada and the eastern and southeastern United States. [2] Penstemon digitalis is the most widespread species of Penstemon east of the Mississippi River. [5]

Contents

Description

Close-up of flower blooming in Schenley Park, Pittsburgh Penstemon digitalis, Schenley Park, 2014-06-09.jpg
Close-up of flower blooming in Schenley Park, Pittsburgh

Penstemon digitalis is a glabrous 3 to 5 foot tall herbaceous plant with opposite, shiny green, simple leaves, on slender, purple stems. The leaves are up to 5 inches long. While upright, the stems average anywhere from 2 to 3 feet tall. The flowering panicle extends to almost one third of the plant's height and has pairs of branches which repeat with two flowers multiple times. The pedicels are almost one fourth of an inch long and produce 1.25 inch long two-lipped tubular flowers over dark green foliage. The flowers have tiny white hairs on the outside of the tube. The plant has elliptic basal leaves and lance-shaped to oblong stem leaves. [6] [7]

The species was originally described as "Fox-Glove-Like Pentstemon" (sic) and the specific epithet digitalis is a direct reference to the foxglove genus Digitalis . The plant grows in moist, sandy soil in full sun in meadows, prairies, fields, wood margins, open woods and along railroad tracks. [6] [8] Its bloom period is from late spring to early summer. The plant is known to attract butterflies, bees, and birds such as hummingbirds. It tolerates deer browsing. [6] [8]

Taxonomy

Penstemon digitalis was scientifically described and named by John Sims using an earlier incomplete description by Thomas Nuttall. [1] In 1933 Francis W. Pennell described a species he named Penstemon alluviorum. It is still recognized in publications such as Flora of the Southeastern United States, [9] but it is regarded as a synonym by Plants of the World Online. [1]

Genome size

The genus Penstemon is the largest in North America with 270 species. However, genome size was relatively unknown for the species, which can be important for taxonomy. Scientists estimated the genome size for 40% of the species in the genus [10] using flow cytometry. Penstemon digitalis has one of the largest genomes of the genus Penstemon.

Cultivation

Like other Penstemon species, it is used in roadside planting because it is easily grown and showy. [6] It is recommended for easy use in gardens from the Midwest to the Atlantic coast and Pacific Northwest by the American Penstemon Society. [11] Iowa's Living Roadway Profiler from the Iowa Department of Transportation says that the plant's "decorative seed capsules add interest in the fall and winter". [6]

One of the plant's cultivars is named 'Husker Red' because of its red foliage that has white or bluish-pink flowers. The Perennial Plant Association chose the 'Husker Red' cultivar of Penstemon digitalis as the 1996 Perennial Plant of the Year. The author of the book Perennial All-Stars described 'Husker Red' as "a stunning flowering perennial" and that "you can easily see why the Perennial Plant Association chose this perennial above all others". 'Husker Red' was named after the Nebraska Cornhuskers. [12] The other cultivar, 'Mystica', is green at first and then later changes to red in the fall. [11]

Penstemon 'Dark Towers' is a hybrid between Penstemon digitalis 'Husker Red' and Penstemon 'Prairie Splendor' (which in turn is a hybrid of Penstemon cobaea and Penstemon triflorus ). [13] The hybrid has tubular pink flowers that grow up to 1.5 inches tall, red foliage, and is 1.5 feet to 3 feet tall. Although 'Dark Tower's is similar to 'Husker Red', its red foliage is darker than that of the 'Husker Red' cultivar and has more height. It also stays red for a longer time in the summer. Dale Lindgren created and named both 'Husker Red' and 'Dark Towers' at the University of Nebraska in 1983. [14] Lindgren decided to create 'Husker Red' because of its purplish-red foliage. [12]

Related Research Articles

<i>Penstemon</i> Genus of plants

Penstemon, the beardtongues, is a large genus of roughly 280 species of flowering plants native mostly to the Nearctic, but with a few species also found in the North American portion of the Neotropics. It is the largest genus of flowering plants endemic to North America. As well as being the scientific name, penstemon is also widely used as a common name for all Penstemon species alongside beardtongues.

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

Penstemon palmeri, known by the common name Palmer's penstemon, is a species of perennial flowering plant in the genus Penstemon that is notable for its showy, rounded flowers, and for being one of the few scented penstemons. The plant, in the family Plantaginaceae, is named after the botanist Edward Palmer.

<i>Digitalis purpurea</i> Toxic flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae

Digitalis purpurea, the foxglove or common foxglove, is a toxic species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae, native to, and also widespread throughout most of temperate Europe. It has also naturalized in parts of North America, as well as some other temperate regions. The plant is a popular garden subject, with many cultivars available. It is the original source of the medicine digoxin, a medicine for the human heart. This biennial plant grows as a rosette of leaves in the first year after sowing, before flowering and then dying in the second year. It generally produces enough seeds, however, so that new plants will continue to grow in a garden setting.

<i>Xerochrysum bracteatum</i> Flowering plant in the family Asteraceae native to Australia

Xerochrysum bracteatum, commonly known as the golden everlasting or strawflower, is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae native to Australia. Described by Étienne Pierre Ventenat in 1803, it was known as Helichrysum bracteatum for many years before being transferred to a new genus Xerochrysum in 1990. It is an annual up to 1 m (3.3 ft) tall with green or grey leafy foliage. Golden yellow or white flower heads are produced from spring to autumn; their distinctive feature is the papery bracts that resemble petals. The species is widespread, growing in a variety of habitats across the country, from rainforest margins to deserts and subalpine areas. The golden everlasting serves as food for various larvae of lepidopterans, and adult butterflies, hoverflies, native bees, small beetles, and grasshoppers visit the flower heads.

<i>Nepeta <span style="font-style:normal;">×</span> faassenii</i> Species of flowering plant

Nepeta × faassenii, a flowering plant also known as catmint and Faassen's catnip, is a primary hybrid of garden origin. The parent species are Nepeta racemosa and Nepeta nepetella.

<i>Alcea rosea</i> Species of flowering plant

Alcea rosea, the common hollyhock, is an ornamental dicot flowering plant in the family Malvaceae. It was imported into Europe from southwestern China during, or possibly before, the 15th century. William Turner, a herbalist of the time, gave it the name "holyoke" from which the English name derives.

<i>Digitalis grandiflora</i> Species of foxglove

Digitalis grandiflora, the yellow foxglove, big-flowered foxglove, or large yellow foxglove, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Digitalis, family Plantaginaceae. It is native to southern Europe and Asia. In mountains it grows on warm, bushy slopes or areas left after logging. The Latin specific epithet grandiflora means “large flowered”.

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

Penstemon floridus is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common names Panamint beardtongue and rose penstemon.

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

Penstemon heterophyllus is a species of penstemon known by the common names bunchleaf penstemon, foothill penstemon, and foothill beardtongue. It is endemic to California.

<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>Digitalis ferruginea</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae

Digitalis ferruginea, the rusty foxglove, is a species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae, native to Hungary, Romania, Turkey and the Caucasus. It is a biennial or short-lived perennial plant growing to 1.2 m, which forms a rosette of oblong dark green leaves and carries spikes of brown, tubular flowers in summer.

<i>Digitalis <span style="font-style:normal;">×</span> fulva</i> Hybrid species of flowering plant

Digitalis × fulva, the strawberry foxglove, is a hybrid species of flowering plant within the family Plantaginaceae. It is a naturally occurring fertile hybrid between the species Digitalis grandiflora and Digitalis purpurea. The species is widely marketed in the UK under the common name strawberry foxglove or its taxonomic synonym Digitalis × mertonensis. The species has been used to produce various cultivars and has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

<i>Digitalis obscura</i> Species of plant

Digitalis obscura, commonly called willow-leaved foxglove or dusty foxglove or spanish rusty foxglove, is a flowering plant native to regions in Spain and Morocco. It is also grown as an ornamental flower. This foxglove is a woody perennial plant belonging to the family Plantaginaceae. Along with the other foxgloves it used to be placed in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae; however, recent genetic research has moved the genus Digitalis to a larger family. It is similar to many of the foxglove species in its high toxicity and medicinal use as a source for the heart-regulating drug digoxin. Its strikingly distinctive amber- to copper-coloured flowers give the species its name and help distinguish it from other members of the genus.

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

Penstemon cobaea is a flowering plant in the plantain family, commonly known as cobaea beardtongue, prairie beardtongue 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.

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

Penstemon pennellianus, often called the Blue Mountain beardtongue or Blue Mountain penstemon, is a species of beardtongue native to Washington and Oregon.

<i>Digitalis parviflora</i> Species of foxglove

Digitalis parviflora, the small-flowered foxglove, is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae. It is endemic to northern and central Spain. It grows at 500–2000 metres in altitude.

<i>Digitalis viridiflora</i> Species of plant

Digitalis viridiflora is a species of flowering plant commonly called green foxglove in family Plantaginaceae. It is a perennial species with greenish-yellow flowers produced on stems that grow 60 to 80cm tall. It is native to the Balkans. It is found growing in woodlands and heaths.

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

Penstemon pinifolius, the pine-leaved penstemon or pine-needle beardtongue, is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae, native to the southwestern USA.

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

Penstemon whippleanus, commonly known as dusky penstemon, dusky beardtongue, Whipple's penstemon, or Whipple's beardtongue, is a summer blooming perennial flower in the large Penstemon genus. It is a widespread plant within the hemiboreal forests of the Rocky Mountains in North America. It is noted for the large deep purple-red flowers and a preference for high mountain elevations.

<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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Penstemon digitalis Nutt. ex Sims". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  2. 1 2 Dickinson, T.; Metsger, D.; Bull, J.; & Dickinson, R. (2004). ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario. Toronto: Royal Ontario Museum, p. 332.
  3. USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Penstemon digitalis". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  4. Newcomb, L. (1977). Newcomb's Wildflower Guide. Little, Brown and Company, p. 102.
  5. "Penstemon digitalis". wolfelab.asc.ohio-state.edu. The Ohio State University, Wolfe Lab. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Iowa's Living Roadway Profiler. Iowa Department of Transportation. p. 18.
  7. Addisonia: Colored Illustrations and Popular Descriptions of Plants, Volume 4. New York Botanical Garden. 1919. p. 19.
  8. 1 2 "Penstemon digitalis - Plant Finder". www.missouribotanicalgarden.org. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  9. Weakley, Alan; et al. (2024). "Penstemon alluviorum detail". Flora of the Southeastern United States. North Carolina Botanical Garden. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  10. Broderick, Shaun R.; Stevens, Mikel R.; Geary, Brad; Love, Stephen L.; Jellen, Eric N.; Dockter, Rhyan B.; Daley, Shawna L.; Lindgren, Dale T. (2011). "A survey of Penstemon's genome size". Genome. 54 (2): 160–173. doi:10.1139/G10-106. PMID   21326372.
  11. 1 2 Rogers Clausen, Ruth (January 7, 2015). Essential Perennials. Timber Press. p. 300. ISBN   9781604696721.
  12. 1 2 Cox, Jeff (October 25, 2002). Perennial All-Stars. Rodale. p. 240. ISBN   9780875968896.
  13. "US Patent for Penstemon plant named 'Dark Towers' Patent (Patent # PP 20,013 issued May 19, 2009)". Justia Patents Search. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
  14. "Penstemon 'Dark Towers'". Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved June 9, 2017.