Stems ascending or erect, rarely decumbent, (8–) 16–50 (–60) cm, glabrous, not glaucous. Leaves basal and cauline, or basal not persisting, ± leathery or not, glabrous, not glaucous; basal and proximal cauline (18–) 35–180 × (3–) 6–15 (–24) mm, blade oblanceolate to oblong or linear, base tapered, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute; cauline 3–5 (or 6) pairs, sessile or proximals sometimes short-petiolate, 34–115 × 2–14 mm, blade oblanceolate to oblong or linear, base tapered, apex obtuse to acute. Thyrses interrupted or continuous, secund, (1–) 6–18 (–25) cm, axis glabrous or sparsely glandular-pubescent, verticillasters (2 or) 3–7 (–9), cymes (1 or) 2–5-flowered, 2 per node; proximal bracts lanceolate to linear, 25–70 (–95) × (1–) 3–12 (–20) mm; peduncles and pedicels glabrous or glandular-pubescent. Flowers: calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, (4–) 4.8–11 × 1.3–3.2 (–3.7) mm, glabrous or glandular-pubescent; corolla blue to lavender, with reddish purple nectar guides, ventricose, 18–33 mm, sparsely to moderately glandular-pubescent externally, glabrous, rarely sparsely white-villous, internally abaxially, tube 6–11 mm, throat gradually inflated, slightly constricted at orifice, 6–11 mm diam., rounded abaxially; stamens: longer pair reaching orifice, pollen-sacs divergent to opposite, navicular to navicular-sigmoid, (1.3–) 1.5–2.4 mm, dehiscing incompletely, proximal 1/5 indehiscent, connective not splitting, sides moderately pubescent, hairs white, to 0.8 mm, sutures denticulate, teeth to 0.1 mm; staminode 11–19 mm, reaching orifice, 0.3–0.8 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, distal 3–7 mm sparsely to moderately villous, hairs yellow, to 0.8 mm; style 12–22 mm. Capsules 6–10 × 5–6.5 mm.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Colo., Utah, Wyo.

Discussion

Varieties 4 (4 in the flora).

Penstemon scariosus comprises four varieties centered in the northwestern Colorado Plateau, Uinta Basin, and Wasatch Range.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Penstemon scariosus var. albifluvis, Penstemon scariosus var. cyanomontanus, Penstemon scariosus var. garrettii, Penstemon scariosus var. scariosus

Key

1	Corollas 25–33 mm; calyx lobes 7–11 mm; pollen sacs 1.8–2.4 mm.	Penstemon scariosus var. scariosus
1	Corollas 18–28 mm; calyx lobes (4–)4.8–8 mm; pollen sacs (1.3–)1.5–2.2 mm.	> 2
2	Corollas sparsely to moderately glandular-pubescent externally, limbs blue to bluish purple; styles 12–14 mm.	Penstemon scariosus var. cyanomontanus
2	Corollas sparsely glandular-pubescent externally, limbs lavender to pale blue or blue; styles 13–22 mm.	> 3
3	Corolla limbs lavender to pale blue; styles 18–22 mm; basal leaves seldom persisting.	Penstemon scariosus var. albifluvis
3	Corolla limbs blue; styles 13–17 mm; basal leaves usually persisting.	Penstemon scariosus var. garrettii

"/4+timescorollathroat" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property.