Penstemon miser

A. Gray

in A. Gray et al., Syn. Fl. N. Amer. ed. 2, 2(1): 441. 1886. (as Pentstemon)

Common names: Malheur beardtongue
Endemic
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 17. Treatment on page 140. Mentioned on page 127.

Stems ascending to erect, 8–28(–40) cm, retrorsely hairy. Leaves basal and cauline, not leathery, retrorsely hairy, hairs sometimes appressed, white, scalelike, sometimes basal and proximal cauline glabrate or glabrous abaxially; basal and proximal cauline petiolate, 15–60(–78) × 4–12(–17) mm, blade spatulate to oblanceolate, base tapered, margins entire or dentate-serrate, apex rounded to obtuse or acute; cauline 3 or 4 pairs, sessile or proximals short-petiolate, 20–50(–75) × 2–5(–10) mm, blade lanceolate to oblanceolate, base tapered to clasping, margins entire or obscurely and remotely dentate, apex obtuse to acute. Thyrses ± interrupted, cylindric, (3–)6–18 cm, axis glandular-pubescent and, sometimes, retrorsely hairy, verticillasters 3–6, cymes 2–5-flowered, 2 per node; proximal bracts lanceolate, 18–46 × 2–12 mm; peduncles and pedicels glandular-pubescent. Flowers: calyx lobes lanceolate, 5.5–8 × 1.2–2 mm, glandular-pubescent; corolla light blue to bluish purple or magenta, with reddish violet nectar guides, ventricose, 14–22 mm, sparsely white-lanate internally abaxially, tube 5–7 mm, throat abruptly inflated, not constricted at orifice, (3–)5–7 mm diam., rounded abaxially; stamens: longer pair reaching orifice, pollen sacs opposite, explanate, 0.7–1(–1.2) mm, dehiscing completely, sutures smooth; staminode 8–9 mm, exserted, 0.3–0.5 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, distal 5–7 mm moderately to densely pilose, hairs yellow or orangish yellow, to 1.2 mm; style 9–10 mm. Capsules (6–)8–11 × 4.5–7 mm.


Phenology: Flowering May–Jun.
Habitat: Clayey soils, sagebrush shrublands, pine-juniper woodlands.
Elevation: 800–1400 m.

Discussion

Penstemon miser is known from Owyhee County, Idaho, and southern Baker and northern Malheur counties, Oregon.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.