Penstemon eriantherus Pursh

Nomenclature

Penstemon eriantherus Pursh is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family, commonly called fuzzytongue penstemon and crested beardtongue.

Distribution

It is native to western North America, distributed across western Canada, and the northwestern and north-central United States.

Growth Form

This species is a perennial herb that grows from a woody caudex and a thick taproot.

Stem Characteristics

It produces several branching stems that reach up to 40 centimeters in height.

Indumentum

Most of the plant's leafy growth is covered in gray hairs, and its flower cluster can be glandular.

Leaf Characteristics

Its leaves are arranged oppositely along the stems, growing up to 13 centimeters long, and sometimes have slightly toothed edges.

Calyx Structure

Flowers develop within a calyx made up of narrow, pointed sepals.

Corolla Features

The corolla is up to 4 centimeters long, with a flower mouth up to 1.4 centimeters wide, and its color ranges from lavender to reddish or bluish purple.

Reproductive Morphology

The lower lip of the corolla and the staminode are densely covered in yellowish hairs.

General Habitat

This plant grows in dry, open areas on clay soils.

Washington Plant Communities

In Washington state, it grows in plant communities dominated by antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata) and Indian ricegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides), purple sage (Salvia dorrii) and bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata), and rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa).

Alternative Habitat

It can also be found growing on rocky soils in sagebrush habitats.

Disturbance Tolerance

Its ability to survive in relatively harsh habitats may help it persist in disturbed areas such as eroded trails.

Intraspecific Varieties

There are 5 recognized varieties of this species: Penstemon eriantherus var. argillosus, which is endemic to Oregon; Penstemon eriantherus var. cleburnei, or Cleburn's penstemon; Penstemon eriantherus var. eriantherus; Penstemon eriantherus var. redactus, or longsac penstemon; and Penstemon eriantherus var. whitedii, or Whited's penstemon, which is endemic to Washington.