Penstemon cyaneus

Stems ascending to erect, (17–) 30–80 cm, glabrous, not or ± glaucous. Leaves basal and cauline, ± leathery or not, glabrous, ± glaucous; basal and proximal cauline 50–170 × 8–25 (–35) mm, blade oblanceolate to elliptic, base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute; cauline 3–7 pairs, sessile or proximals short-petiolate, (15–) 30–90 (–120) × (4–) 8–25 mm, blade lanceolate to ovate, base cordate-clasping or proximals tapered, apex acute. Thyrses continuous or interrupted, secund, (3–) 7–27 cm, axis glabrous, verticillasters (3–) 5–14, cymes (2 or) 3–6-flowered, 2 per node; proximal bracts lanceolate, 15–65 × 2–26 mm; peduncles and pedicels glabrous, peduncles to 18 mm, pedicels 3–18 mm. Flowers: calyx lobes obovate to ovate, 2.5–4.5 × 2–3.4 (–3.8) mm, apex mucronate, sometimes acute to acuminate, glabrous; corolla blue to violet or purple, without nectar guides, ventricose, 24–30 (–34) mm, glabrous externally, glabrous internally, tube 7–10 mm, throat gradually inflated, not constricted at orifice, 8–11 mm diam., slightly 2-ridged abaxially; stamens: longer pair reaching orifice, pollen-sacs divergent, sigmoid, 1.8–2.7 (–3) mm, dehiscing incompletely, proximal 1/5 indehiscent, connective not splitting, sides hispid to hispidulous, hairs white or tan, to 0.2 mm, sutures denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm; staminode 14–17 mm, included, 0.5–0.7 mm diam., tip straight, distal 4–7 mm sparsely pilose, hairs yellow, to 1 mm; style 17–23 mm. Capsules 9–13 × 5–7 mm.

Phenology: Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat: Gravelly or sandy hillsides, sagebrush shrublands.
Elevation: 1400–2900 m.

Idaho, Mont., Wyo.

Discussion

Penstemon cyaneus occurs from the vicinity of Yellowstone National Park westward into south-central Idaho.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa