Penstemon yampaensis

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Penstemon yampaensis
Penstemon yampaensis - Ernie Marx 01.jpg
Flowering north of Dinosaur National Monument, Colorado
Status TNC G2.svg
Imperiled  (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. yampaensis
Binomial name
Penstemon yampaensis
Penland, 1958
Synonyms [2]
  • Penstemon acaulis var. yampaensis (Penland) Neese (1986)

Penstemon yampaensis, the Yampa penstemon, is a rare species of plant from the western United States. It grows in the Yampa River drainage of Colorado and Wyoming and westward into Utah. It is one of the more unusual penstemons, having almost no stem. It is threatened from habitat disturbance, particularly the invasion of the non-native cheatgrass.

Contents

Description

Penstemon yampaensis is a very short species of plant, its stems only reaching 1 centimeter in length. [3] The stems are prostrate, laying flat on the ground, or somewhat ascending, stems growing upwards slightly, forming a mat up to about 30 centimeters (1 ft) in diameter. [3] [4] The stems are scabrous or puberulent in texture, rough to the touch with stiff hairs or covered in short fine hairs. [3] They grow from a branched rootstock. [4]

The leaves of Penstemon yampaensis may be attached directly to the stems or to the base of the plant without petioles (leaf stems). Their surface texture is rough, but not leathery. [3] Leaves are usually 15–25 millimeters long, [4] but may reach as much as 35 mm in length. [3] The leaves are much narrower usually only 1.5–2.6 millimeters wide, though occasionally as much as 4.5 mm. They range in shape from narrow like grass to oblanceolate, with the wider part past the middle of the leaf. The edges of the leaves are smooth or very faintly toothed and they taper to the base. [3]

Flowers with the orange staminode Penstemon yampaensis - Ernie Marx 02.jpg
Flowers with the orange staminode

The flowers are found on the outermost branches, usually four together, but as many as six or as few as two. [4] The lobes of the fused sepals are lanceolate, spear head shaped, and 5–6.5 mm long. The flower is a funnel shaped tube, bluish lavender to lavender in color, and 14–18 mm in length. The flower does not have nectar guides and has pale yellow to whitish fine hairs inside the tube. The opening of the flower is not constricted and the longer pair of stamens reach the opening. [3] The sterile staminode is covered in orange hairs on its upper side and reached beyond the flower opening. [4] They may bloom as early as the month of May or as late as July. [3]

The fruit of is a capsule 3.5–5 mm long by 3–4 mm wide. [3] Two to four seeds are contained in each capsule, each 2–3 mm and black in color with a rough surface. [4]

Taxonomy

Penstemon yampaensis was given a scientific description as a species and named by Charles William Theodore Penland (1899-1982) in 1958. [2] In some sources, such as the Flora of North America, the alternate spelling Penstemon yampaënsis is used for this species. [3] In 1986 Elizabeth Chase Neese (1934-2008) published a description of the species as a variety of the similar Penstemon acaulis , [2] however it is listed as an accepted species by Plants of the World Online, World Flora Online, [5] and World Plants. [6]

The extremely low growing habit with such short stems makes it one of the most unusual members of the Penstemon genus, along with its close relative, Penstemon acaulis. [7]

Range and habitat

Penstemon yampaensis has a natural distribution near where the states of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming meet. It is recorded from just four counties. In Colorado it grows in Moffat County at the northwest corner of the state. In Utah it grows in two counties in the easternmost portion of the state Daggett and Uintah . To the north it is found in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. [3] There are less than 40 known locations where it grows across its range. [1]

The Yampa penstemon grows in soils originating from weathered sandstone, often on dry ridgetops, ledges, or hilltops. It is associated with sagebrush and pinyon-juniper woodlands. [7] [3]

Conservation

Penstemon yampaensis was evaluated in 2022 by NatureServe and rated as globally imperiled (G2). They similarly rated it as imperiled (S2) in both Colorado and Utah and as critically imperiled (S1) in Wyoming. It is threatened by invasive plants, especially cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum). It is also impacted by livestock, the long term North American drought, and may also have some of its occurrences disturbed by utility work. [1]

See also

List of Penstemon species

Related Research Articles

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<i>Penstemon albomarginatus</i> Plant species in the plantain family

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<i>Penstemon anguineus</i> Plant species in the plantain family

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<i>Penstemon azureus</i> Plant species in the plantain family

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<i>Penstemon barnebyi</i> Plant species in the plantain family

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.

<i>Penstemon bicolor</i> Plant species in the plantain family

Penstemon bicolor is a species of penstemon known by the common name pinto penstemon. It is native to the desert mountains and valleys of southern Nevada, eastern California, and western Arizona, where it grows in scrub, woodland, and other local habitat. It is a perennial herb which may exceed one meter in maximum height.

<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>Penstemon angustifolius</i> Plant species in the plantain family

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.

<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>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-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> Plant species in the plantain family

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>Penstemon cyathophorus</i> Plant species in the plantain family

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.

<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.

<i>Penstemon albifluvis</i> Plant species in the plantain family

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.

<i>Penstemon breviculus</i> Plant species in the plantain family

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.

<i>Penstemon watsonii</i> Plant species in the plantain family

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.

<i>Penstemon crandallii</i> Plant species in the family

Penstemon crandallii, also known as Crandall's penstemon, is a species of penstemon that grows in western Colorado and small parts of New Mexico and Utah. It is a low growing plant with blue to purple flowers.

References

  1. 1 2 3 NatureServe (2024). "Penstemon yampaensis". Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "Penstemon yampaensis Penland". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Freeman, Craig C. (29 July 2020). "Penstemon yampaënsis". Flora of North America . Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Penland, C. William T. (1958). "Two New Species of Penstemon in Colorado". Madroño. 14 (5): 156–160. ISSN   0024-9637. JSTOR   41422929.
  5. "Penstemon yampaensis Penland". World Flora Online . Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  6. Hassler, Michael (9 October 2024). "Synonymic Checklist and Distribution of the World Flora. Version 24.10". World Plants. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  7. 1 2 "Penstemon yampaensis". Wolfe Lab Penstemon database. Ohio State University. 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2024.