Penstemon, the beardtongues, is a large genus of roughly 250 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. Formerly placed in the family Scrophulariaceae by the Cronquist system, new genetic research has placed it in the vastly expanded family Plantaginaceae.
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.
Navajo Mountain is a peak in San Juan County, Utah, with its southern flank extending into Coconino County, Arizona, in the United States. It holds an important place in the traditions of three local Native American tribes. The summit is the highest point on the Navajo Nation.
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. This is a hairy perennial herb with erect branches reaching 30 centimeters (1 ft) in maximum height. The oppositely arranged leaves are lance-shaped and up to 7.5 centimeters (3 in) long. There are usually several located around the base of the plant. The inflorescence produces tubular flowers just over one-half centimeter long. They are light purple with a purple-striped white throat lined with yellowish hairs. The protruding staminode is covered in bright orange hairs.
Penstemon caesius is a species of penstemon known by the common name San Bernardino beardtongue. 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. It is a perennial herb with erect branches up to about 80 centimeters in maximum height. The lower branches may be woody, the upper hairless and waxy, and the inflorescence glandular. Most of the leaves are basal on the plant, rounded or oval, and up to about 4 centimeters long. The inflorescence produces purple-blue tubular flowers roughly 2 centimeters long. The flower has a glandular outer surface, a coat of hairs inside, and a hairless staminode. The flowers of this penstemon are pollinated by bees of genus Osmia, which feed on their nectar.
Penstemon floridus is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common names Panamint beardtongue and rose penstemon.
Penstemon pahutensis is a species of penstemon known by the common name Pahute Mesa beardtongue, or simply Pahute beardtongue. It is native to the desert hills and mountains of southern Nevada, including the Pahute Mesa for which it is named. It can also be found in a few areas over the border in California. It is a perennial herb growing up to 35 centimeters (14 in) tall. The paired, narrow leaves are linear to lance-shaped and up to 10 centimeters (4 in) long. The inflorescence bears blue-purple flowers up to 3 centimeters long. The inside of the wide mouth of the flower is lined with white or yellow hairs, and the staminode is coated in yellow hairs.
Penstemon personatus is an uncommon species of penstemon known by the common name closethroat beardtongue.
Penstemon spectabilis is a species of penstemon known by the common name showy penstemon or showy beardtongue. It is native to southern California and Baja California, where it grows in the chaparral, scrub, and woodlands of the coastal mountain ranges.
Penstemon stephensii is an uncommon species of penstemon known by the common name Stephens' beardtongue, or Stephens' penstemon. It is endemic to California, where it is known only from the mountains of the Mojave Desert region. It grows in scrub, woodland, and sandy clearings, often on limestone substrates. It is an erect shrub which may reach 1.5 meters in height, with many leafy flowering stems. The thin leaves are oval with wide triangular tips and serrated edges. The oppositely arranged pairs fuse about the stem at the bases, sometimes forming a disc. The inflorescence bears glandular, wide-mouthed tubular flowers up to 2 centimeters long in shades of pink or purple. The plant is pollinated by hummingbirds.
Penstemon tracyi is a rare species of penstemon known by the common names Trinity penstemon and Tracy's beardtongue.
Penstemon penlandii is a rare species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common names Penland penstemon and Penland's beardtongue. It is endemic to Colorado in the United States, where it is known only from a strip of land about five miles long in central Grand County. There are two occurrences totalling about 8600 individuals. This is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.
Penstemon pudicus is a rare species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common names bashful beardtongue and Kawich Range beardtongue. It is endemic to Nevada in the United States, where it is known only from the Kawich Range in Nye County.
Penstemon clutei is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common name Sunset Crater beardtongue. It is endemic to Arizona, where it is known only from a system of volcanic cinder cones, including Sunset Crater, in Coconino County.
Penstemon scariosus is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common name White River beardtongue. It is native to Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming in the United States.
Penstemon humilis is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common names low beardtongue and lowly beardtongue. It is native to the western United States.
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.
Penstemon pennellianus, often called the Blue Mountain beardtongue or Blue Mountain penstemon, is a species of beardtongue native to Washington and Oregon.
