Penstemon arenicola

Stems decumbent to ascending, (4–) 7–18 (–30) cm, glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline, glabrous; basal and proximal cauline 21–50 (–70) × 4–11 (–17) mm, blade spatulate to oblanceolate, base tapered, apex rounded to obtuse, acute, or mucronate; cauline 2–5 pairs, short-petiolate or sessile, 21–58 × 3–11 mm, blade lanceolate to oblanceolate, base tapered to clasping, apex obtuse to acute or mucronate. Thyrses continuous, cylindric, 3–14 cm, axis glabrous, verticillasters 4–9, cymes (1 or) 2–6-flowered; proximal bracts oblanceolate to lanceolate, 13–60 × 5–16 mm; peduncles and pedicels glabrous. Flowers: calyx lobes lanceolate, 4–6.2 (–7.5) × 0.9–1.6 mm, margins entire or erose, narrowly scarious, glabrous; corolla blue to violet, with reddish purple nectar guides, tubular-funnelform, (10–) 12–15 mm, glabrous externally, sparsely white-pubescent internally abaxially or glabrous, tube 4–5 mm, throat gradually inflated, 4.5–5.5 mm diam., rounded abaxially; stamens included, pollen-sacs divergent, 0.7–0.8 mm, sutures smooth or obscurely papillate; staminode 6–8 mm, included, 0.8–1 mm diam., tip recurved, distal 3–4 mm densely pubescent, hairs golden yellow, to 1 mm; style 8–10 mm. Capsules 6–10 (–12) × 5–6 mm.

Phenology: Flowering May–Jun.
Habitat: Sandy or shaley soils, sagebrush shrublands.
Elevation: 1800–2400 m.

Wyo.

Discussion

Penstemon arenicola occurs throughout much of the western two-thirds of Wyoming. Specimens documenting occurrence of the species in Colorado and Montana have not been seen.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa