Penstemon teucrioides

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Penstemon teucrioides
Penstemon teucrioides 01.jpg
Penstemon teucrioides, Pike National Forest, south-central 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. teucrioides
Binomial name
Penstemon teucrioides

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.

Contents

Description

Penstemon teucrioides is a low growing mat forming species of perennial plant that has somewhat woody stems. [2] Both the leaves and the stems have an somewhat ashy, gray appearance due to dense, pointed, backwards facing hairs. The stems may fully lay down on the ground ( prostrate ) or may curve upwards towards their ends ( ascending ). The height of the plant ranges from 2–10 centimeters. [3] The plants may spread to be about 60 centimeters in diameter. [4]

The leaves are arranged in pairs on the stems with five to nine pairs per stem. [3] Leaves are crowded together and are very narrow. [2] The bases of each leaf is tapered while the ends come to a sharp point, usually with the middle vein of the leaf forming an extended tip (mucronate), but sometimes tapering to the tip (acuminate). They are 4–14 millimeters long and just 0.5–1.4 millimeters wide. [3]

Flowers

Penstemon teucrioides has showy, funnel shaped, blue or violet flowers, with a white or yellowish interior and reddish-violet nectar guides. The fused flower petals are 15–19 millimeters long, with a tube length of about 6–7 millimters and a width of 4–5.5 millimeters. [3] The sterile staminode is covered in covered in yellow-orange hairs and 8–9 millimeters in length. [3] [2] Flowering may be from May to July in its native habitat, but is occasionally as late as August. [3]

Chemistry

The major iridoids of Penstemon teucrioides are aucubin, isoscrophularioside, and trans-eurostoside. They also have minor amounts of mussaenoside, 8-epiloganin, geniposide, and methyl gardoside. [5]

Taxonomy

Penstemon teucrioides was first scientifically described by Edward Lee Greene in 1901 and given its present binomial. It has no subspecies or synonyms. [6] [7] [8]

Names

The species name, teucrioides, means resembling Teucrium , a genus of plants commonly called germanders. [4] It is known by the common name "creeping penstemon", [2] but it shares this name with at least two other species, Penstemon davidsonii and Penstemon linarioides . [9] [10] To distinguish it from them it is sometimes called the "grayleaf creeping penstemon". [11] It is also known both as the "germander penstemon" and the "germander beardtounge". [12] [3]

Distribution and habitat

Penstemon teucrioides is found in central and southern mountains of Colorado. [11] It is endemic to the state of Colorado and has been found in just five counties, Park, Chaffee, Gunnison, Hinsdale, and Saguache. A reported collection of the species from Rio Arriba County, New Mexico in 1915 is generally regarded as an error. [3]

Though it grows in the mountains, this species is found in the sagebrush steppe lands within the mountains such as in South Park and the upper drainage of the Gunnison River. [2] [3] It grows at elevations of 2200–3400 meters. [3]

Ecology

Though it is not a major source of food, the eastern deer mouse has been observed to eat the seeds of Penstemon teucrioides in September. [13] The parasitic flower orange paintbrush uses P. teucrioides as a host and takes the plant toxin aucubin (see chemistry) in addition to taking energy from it. [5]

Cultivation

Though its range is restricted, grayleaf creeping penstemon is much more widely cultivated in North America and in the United Kingdom. [4] It is noted as being more vigorous in cultivation than the closely related mat penstemon or Thompson's beardtongue by the penstemon experts David Way and Peter James. [14] As is typical of penstemons, they require well drained soil and prefer sand or small rock chips, but are not particular about soil pH. [4] They are typically grown in rock gardens or troughs due to their very short height. [15] The seeds take about eight weeks to germinate. [4] The seeds have relatively low germination rates, only 20% after 30 days at 21°C and also 20% in six days when planted at 4.5°C and then raised to 21°C. [16] It is winter hardy in USDA zones 4–8. [15]

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>Pterospora</i> Genus of plants

Pterospora, commonly known as pinedrops, woodland pinedrops, Albany beechdrops, or giant bird's nest, is a North American genus in the subfamily Monotropoideae of the heath family, and includes only the species Pterospora andromedea. It grows as a mycoheterotroph in coniferous or mixed forests. It is widespread across much of Canada as well as the western and northeastern United States to Mexico. Along with Monotropa it is one of the more frequently encountered genera of the Monotropoideae.

<i>Pedicularis groenlandica</i> North American species of flowering plant

Pedicularis groenlandica is a showy flowering plant in the family Orobanchaceae commonly known as elephant's head, little pink elephant, elephantella, or similar common names inspired by the resemblance of the flower to the head of an elephant. It is also less commonly known as butterfly tongue for the long beak on the flower. Like many other plants in genus Pedicularis, it is a parasitic plant and depends on host plants to survive.

<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>Tetraneuris acaulis</i> Species of flowering plant in the sunflower family

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.

<i>Castilleja integra</i> Species of flowering plant

Castilleja integra, with the common names orange paintbrush, Southwestern paintbrush, and wholeleaf paintbrush, is a partially parasitic herbaceous perennial plant native to the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico. The species produces a relatively large amount of nectar and is attractive to hummingbirds. It is better suited to cultivation than most other species in the paintbrush genus (Castilleja) and is therefor used in xeriscape gardens and naturalistic meadows, even outside its native range.

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

Penstemon davidsonii is a species of penstemon known by the common name Davidson's penstemon, honoring Dr. George Davidson. It is native to western North America.

<i>Mertensia lanceolata</i> Species of plant in the borage family

Mertensia lanceolata, known as prairie bluebells, lance-leaved bluebells, lance-leaved lungwort, and narrow-leaved languid ladies is a species of flowering plant native to the Rocky Mountains and areas of the northern Great Plains in western North America. A herbaceous perennial it has blue-green leaves alternately arranged on its smooth flowering stalk. Its flower buds are pink-purple and become blue as they open.

<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 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

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.

<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-drained 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 auriberbis</i> Species of flowering plant

Penstemon auriberbis, commonly known as the Colorado penstemon or Colorado beardtongue, is a species of Penstemon that grows in the shortgrass prairies of southern Colorado and in a few places in northern New Mexico. Although specimens were collected on the 1820 expedition by Stephen H. Long through the area, they were not scientifically described as a separate species until 1920.

<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 in the family Orobanchaceae

Castilleja rhexiifolia, commonly called rosy paintbrush, subalpine paintbrush, or rhexia-leaved paintbrush, is a species of plant in Orobanchaceae, commonly known as the broomrape family. They are a common flower found in moist habitats near or above timberline in the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Northwest. Like most members of the Castilleja genus, they are partially parasitic plants.

<i>Pediocactus simpsonii</i> Species of flowering plant in the family

Pediocactus simpsonii, known by the common names mountain cactus, snowball cactus, and mountain ball cactus, is a relatively common cactus that has adapted to survive in cold and dry environments in high elevation areas of the western United States. It can be found at higher elevations than any other cactus in North America. While not a landscape dominating plant, it is a relatively common species and the most common member of the genus Pediocactus. Because of its beauty and adaptation to cold environments it is sometimes grown by gardeners in areas that have few other choices due to the limited number of cactuses with cold adaptations. Like many cactuses its populations are sometimes threatened by this desirability due to the theft or removal of plants from the wild by collectors.

<i>Townsendia grandiflora</i> Species of flowering plant in the family

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.

<i>Frankenia jamesii</i> North American species of sea heath

Frankenia jamesii, known by the common names of pearly mockheather and James's sea heath, is a low growing shrub from the south-central United states from southern Colorado to the far western end of Texas. It has small leaves that are reminiscent of needle like leaves of common heather, suggesting one of its common names. It is a member of the Frankenia genus, which is the only genus in the family of flowering plants. It is best known for growing on gypsum soils.

<i>Sisyrinchium demissum</i> Species of flowering plant in the blue-eyed grass genus

Sisyrinchium demissum, commonly called stiff blue-eyed grass is small member of the iris family in genus Sisyrinchium. The plant's natural range is in the western United states and northern Mexico. It is sometimes grown in garden settings in its native range.

References

  1. NatureServe (2024). "Penstemon teucrioides". Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Roberts, Rhoda N.; Nelson, Ruth Ashton (1967). Mountain Wild Flowers of Colorado and Adjacent Areas. Denver, Colorado: Denver Museum of Natural History. p. 42. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Freeman, Craig C. (5 November 2020). "Penstemon teucrioides - FNA". Flora of North America. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Lindgren, Dale Tennis; Wilde, Ellen (2003). Growing Penstemons : Species, Cultivars, and Hybrids. American Penstemon Society. pp. 87–88. ISBN   978-0-7414-1529-5 . Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  5. 1 2 Stermitz, Frank R.; Foderaro, Tommaso A.; Li, Yong-Xian (March 1993). "Iridoid glycoside uptake by Castilleja integra via root parasitism on Penstemon teucrioides". Phytochemistry. 32 (5): 1151–1153. Bibcode:1993PChem..32.1151S. doi:10.1016/S0031-9422(00)95081-7.
  6. "Penstemon teucrioides Greene". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  7. "Penstemon teucrioides Greene". World Flora Online . Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  8. Greene, Edward Lee; Baker, Carl F. (1901). "Scrophulariaceae". Plantae Bakerianae. 3. s.n: 23. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  9. Zwinger, Ann; Willard, Beatrice E. (1972). Land Above the Trees; A Guide to American Alpine Tundra. New York: Harper & Row. p. 260. ISBN   978-0-06-014823-2 . Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  10. Patraw, Pauline Mead (1977). Flowers of the Southwest Mesas. Globe, Arizona: Southwest Parks and Monuments Association. p. 104. ISBN   978-0-911408-47-8 . Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  11. 1 2 Nelson, Ruth Ashton; Williams, Roger L. (1992). Handbook of Rocky Mountain Plants (4th ed.). Niwot, Colorado: Roberts Rinehart Publishers. pp. 298–299. ISBN   978-0-911797-96-1 . Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  12. Nelson, Ruth Ashton (1969). Handbook of Rocky Mountain Plants (1st ed.). Tucson, Arizona: Dale Stuart King. p. 249. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  13. Johnson, Donald R. (April 1964). "Effects of Range Treatment With 2,4-D on Food Habits of Rodents". Ecology. 45 (2): 244. Bibcode:1964Ecol...45..241J. doi:10.2307/1933837. JSTOR   1933837.
  14. Way, David; James, Peter (1998). The Gardener's Guide to Growing Penstemons (1st ed.). Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. p. 85. ISBN   978-0-88192-424-4 . Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  15. 1 2 Mineo, Baldassare (1999). Rock Garden Plants : A Color Encyclopedia. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. p. 179. ISBN   978-0-88192-432-9 . Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  16. 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): 95. doi:10.3368/npj.21.1.83.