Penstemon kingii

Herbs. Stems decumbent to ascending, 7–25 (–30) cm, retrorsely hairy, hairs pointed, often densely so, not glaucous. Leaves cauline, opposite, retrorsely hairy or puberulent, hairs pointed, not glaucous; cauline (2 or) 3–6 pairs, short-petiolate or sessile, 17–50 (–80) × 2–7 (–10) mm, blade oblanceolate to linear, base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute. Thyrses continuous, cylindric, 3–15 cm, axis retrorsely hairy or puberulent, verticillasters 4–10, cymes (1 or) 2–4-flowered, 2 per node; proximal bracts oblanceolate to lanceolate, 11–40 × 2–8 mm; peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, peduncles puberulent, pedicels puberulent and glandular-pubescent, at least distally. Flowers: calyx lobes lanceolate, 4–6 × 1.4–1.9 mm, glandular-pubescent; corolla violet to purple, reddish purple, or blue, without nectar guides, ventricose, 15–22 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, glabrous internally, tube 5–7 mm, throat gradually inflated, 4.5–7 mm diam., slightly 2-ridged abaxially; stamens included or longer pair reaching orifice, filaments glabrous, pollen-sacs parallel, 1–1.5 (–1.8) mm, distal 1/2–2/3 indehiscent, sides glabrous, sutures denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm; staminode 11–13 mm, reaching orifice or barely exserted, 0.4–0.5 mm diam., glabrous; style 12–16 mm. Capsules 6–10 × 4–6 mm.

Phenology: Flowering May–Jul.
Habitat: Sagebrush-juniper woodlands.
Elevation: 1500–2100 m.

Nev., Oreg.

Discussion

Penstemon kingii is known from mountain ranges throughout central and northwestern Nevada (Churchill, Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Nye, and Pershing counties) and southeastern Oregon (Malheur County). N. H. Holmgren (1984) reported a chromosome number of 2n = 32 for P. kingii; the basis for that report has not been determined.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa