Penstemon sudans

Subshrubs. Stems ascending to erect, 18–70 cm, glandular-pubescent, sometimes densely so distally, not glaucous. Leaves cauline, opposite or subopposite, not leathery, glandular-pubescent; cauline (4–) 7–10 pairs, sessile or proximals short-petiolate, 14–60 × 8–20 (–30) mm, blade obovate to ovate or lanceolate, base tapered to clasping, margins dentate, dentate-serrate, or serrate, apex acute to acuminate. Thyrses interrupted or continuous, cylindric, 13–35 cm, axis densely glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 9–18, cymes 1–5-flowered, 2 per node; proximal bracts ovate to lanceolate, (7–) 15–40 × (2–) 8–18 mm, margins dentate to dentate-serrate; peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, densely glandular-pubescent. Flowers: calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, 3–6 × 0.8–1.6 mm, densely glandular-pubescent; corolla white to light lavender or light pink, with reddish violet nectar guides, funnelform, 9–11 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, glandular-pubescent internally, tube 3–4 mm, throat slightly inflated, 3–4 mm diam., rounded abaxially; stamens included, pollen-sacs opposite, navicular to subexplanate, 0.5–0.7 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures smooth; staminode 9–10 mm, included or exserted, 0.2–0.3 mm diam., tip straight, glabrous; style 7–8 mm. Capsules 4–5 × 2.5–3 mm, glabrous.

Phenology: Flowering Jun–Jul.
Habitat: Igneous soils and crevices, basalt in sagebrush shrublands and pine woodlands.
Elevation: 1200–1800 m.

Calif., Nev.

Discussion

Penstemon sudans is known from northeastern California (Lassen, Modoc, and Placer counties); it has been reported for Washoe County, Nevada. D. D. Keck (1940b) observed that some plants of P. deustus from southeastern Oregon (Curry, Jackson, and Josephine counties) approach P. sudans in glandularity, though he considered these to be one extreme of the morphologic spectrum exhibited by P. deustus.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa