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Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants

Penstemon breviculus - shortstem beardtongue

Synonyms: Penstemon jamesii Benth. ssp. breviculus
Other Common Names: narrow-mouth penstemon, little penstemon
Plant Form: Forb or Subshrub

Family: Scrophulariaceae


   
 
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Forb Plant Description

Origin: Native   Life Cycle: Biennial or perennial   Similar Species: Penstemon ophianthus
General Desc: Erect, or slightly upward-curving; appears to have fuzzy halo surrounding its stem and floral parts with floral tube, calyx, and stem covered in minute ball-tipped, sticky, glandular, orangish-yellow hairs; flowering stems often bend and sprawl outward.
Identification notes: Stems, leaves, sepals, petals covered in glandular hairs; leaves to 3 inches long; flowers on multiple stems, purplish-pink to light purple, opening has reddish-purple nectar guides on white background, woolly hairs; sterile stamen can exceed petals.
Height: To about 1 foot tall


Habitat

Habitat Description: Sandy, gravelly, or clay soils in sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, and desert grasslands.
Plant Communities: Interior Chaparral, Semidesert Grasslands, Pinyon Juniper Woodland
Elevation: 4800 - 6000 feet


Flower Characteristics

Color: Purplish-pink to light purple     Shape: Regular in elongated clusters     Tubular: Y     Flowering Period: May - Jun
Description: Purplish-pink to light purple flowers abundant on multiple stems; calyx lobes narrow, glandular-hairy; corolla 3/4 inch long, 1/4 inch wide, opening as high or higher than wide; staminode (sterile stamen) 1/4 inch long, reaching opening or beyond.


Leaf and Stem Characteristics

Leaf Color: Green     Leaf Type: Simple     Leaf Shape: Narrow     Leaf Margin: Smooth     Leaf Attachment: Basal and opposite     Leaves Clasp: N
Hairs: Leaves and stems     Spines: N
Leaf Description: Leaves mostly basal and opposite, narrow, elliptic, or spatula-like, up to 3 inches long, smooth or rarely few toothed; basal leaves stalked, stem leaves without stalk.


Fruit and Seed Characteristics

Fruit Color: Purple   
Fruit Type: Capsule


  Arizona Cooperative Extension
Yavapai County
840 Rodeo Dr #C
Prescott, AZ 86305
(928) 445-6590
Version 8.0  
http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetailForb.php  
Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022
Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson  
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