Penstemon spectabilis

Penstemon spectabilis is a species of penstemon known by the common name showy penstemon or showy beardtongue. It is native to southern California and Baja California, where it grows in the chaparral, scrub, and woodlands of the coastal mountain ranges.

Penstemon spectabilis

Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Penstemon
Species:
P. spectabilis
Binomial name
Penstemon spectabilis

Description

Penstemon spectabilis is a perennial herb growing erect to a maximum height often exceeding one meter. The thin leaves are lance-shaped to oval, serrated on the edges, and up to 10 centimeters in length. The oppositely arranged pairs may fuse about the stem at the bases. The inflorescence bears wide-mouthed tubular purple-blue flowers which may be over 3 centimeters long. The throat is lighter in color, lavender to nearly white, and hairless inside.[1] Flowers bloom April to June.[2]

This plant is often a pioneer species in habitat recently disturbed.[1] It is pollinated by wasps such as Pseudomasaris vespoides, as well as by hummingbirds.[3]

Taxonomy

Varieties
  • Penstemon spectabilis var. spectabilis

The nominate variety. The inflorescence is glabrous (lacking hair). This variety is distributed across the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains, and the Peninsular Ranges from California to Mexico,[4] reaching its southern distribution at northwest the foothills of the Sierra de San Pedro Martir in Baja California.[5]

  • Penstemon spectabilis var. subinteger (D.D. Keck) C.C. Freeman

A variety endemic to Baja California, commonly known as the Peninsular showy beardtongue, found from the vicinity of San Telmo and San Quintin south to the Bahia de Los Angeles.[5]

  • Penstemon spectabilis var. subvicosus (D.D. Keck) McMinn

This variety has a glandular inflorescence. Native to the Transverse Ranges of California.[6]

Penstemon spectabalis

References
  1. "Showy Penstemon, Penstemon spectabilis". calscape.org.
  2. "Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin". www.wildflower.org. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  3. Chari, J. and P. Wilson. (2001). Factors limiting hybridization between Penstemon spectabilis and Penstemon centranthifolius. Can J Bot 79:1439-48.
  4. Wetherwax, Margriet; Holmgren, Noel H. (2012). "Penstemon spectabilis var. spectabilis". Jepson eFlora. Jepson Flora Project. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  5. Rebman, J. P.; Gibson, J.; Rich, K. (2016). "Annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Baja California, Mexico" (PDF). San Diego Society of Natural History. 45: 222.
  6. Wetherwax, Margriet; Holmgren, Noel H. (2012). "Penstemon spectabilis var. subviscosus". Jepson eFlora. Jepson Flora Project. Retrieved 4 January 2022.

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