Penstemon laevis

Stems ascending to erect, 28–90 cm, glabrous, ± glaucous. Leaves basal and cauline, ± leathery, glabrous, ± glaucous; basal and proximal cauline 35–120 (–150) × 8–30 mm, blade obovate to oblanceolate or elliptic, base tapered, margins entire, sometimes undulate, apex obtuse; cauline 3–6 pairs, sessile or proximals sometimes short to long-petiolate, (20–) 30–120 × 6–20 (–29) mm, blade oblanceolate to lanceolate or elliptic, base truncate to clasping, sometimes tapered, margins sometimes undulate, apex obtuse to acute. Thyrses continuous, secund, 8–48 cm, axis glabrous; verticillasters 5–8 (–17), cymes 1–4-flowered, 2 per node; proximal bracts lanceolate, 10–65 × 2–15 mm; peduncles and pedicels glabrous. Flowers: calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, (4–) 4.5–9 (–10) × 2.1–3.4 (–3.8) mm, glabrous; corolla blue to bluish violet, with reddish violet nectar guides, ventricose, (20–) 25–32 mm, glabrous externally, glabrous internally, tube 7–11 mm, throat abruptly inflated, slightly constricted at orifice, 8–12 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially; stamens: longer pair reaching orifice or exserted, pollen-sacs divergent, sigmoid, 2–2.5 mm, dehiscing incompletely, proximal 1/4 indehiscent, connective not splitting, sides glabrous, sutures denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm; staminode 16–19 mm, included or reaching orifice, 0.6–0.9 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, distal 5–7 mm ± pilose, hairs yellow, to 1 mm; style (17–) 19–23 mm. Capsules 8–10 × 5–6 mm.

Phenology: Flowering May–Jun.
Habitat: Sandy soils, sagebrush, juniper, oak-juniper, and pine-juniper communities.
Elevation: 1100–2000 m.

Ariz., Utah.

Discussion

Penstemon laevis is known from Coconino and Mohave counties, Arizona, and Garfield, Kane, and Washington counties, Utah. Penstemon ×jonesii Pennell, a putative hybrid between P. eatonii and P. laevis, is known from Kane and Washington counties, Utah (E. C. Neese and N. D. Atwood 2003).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa