Penstemon newberryi

A. Gray

in War Department [U.S.], Pacif. Railr. Rep. 6(3): 82, plate 14. 1858. (as Pentstemon)

Common names: Newberry’s beardtongue
Endemic
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 17. Treatment on page 90. Mentioned on page 86, 87.

Subshrubs, cespitose. Stems ascending to erect, (5–)10–32 cm, glabrous or retrorsely hairy, not glaucous. Leaves persistent, 4–9 pairs, distals distinctly to slightly smaller than proximals, short-petiolate or sessile, (5–)9–42 × 4–14(–18) mm, blade elliptic to obovate, base tapered, cuneate, or cordate-clasping, margins ± serrulate or serrulate-denticulate to serrate, apex rounded to obtuse or acute, glabrous, glaucous. Thyrses continuous, ± secund, 2–20 cm, axis glandular-pubescent, verticillasters 4–12, cymes 1-flowered; proximal bracts ovate to lanceolate, 4–11(–20) × 2–8(–15) mm; peduncles and pedicels ascending, glandular-pubescent. Flowers: calyx lobes lanceolate, 6–10 × 2–2.5 mm, glandular-pubescent; corolla pink, red, scarlet, lavender, or purple, essentially unlined internally but abaxial ridges sometimes pink to whitish, not personate, funnelform, 22–35 mm, glabrous externally, moderately to densely white-lanate internally abaxially, tube 6–9 mm, throat 5–12 mm diam.; stamens included or longer pair exserted, pollen sacs 0.8–1.7 mm; staminode 8–14 mm, slightly flattened distally, 0.1–0.3 mm diam., tip straight, distal 2–8 mm pubescent to lanate, hairs white or yellowish, to 1 mm; style 20–24 mm. Capsules (8–)10–13 × (4–)5–8 mm.

Discussion

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

Penstemon newberryi is known from the Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges of California, Nevada, and Oregon.

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Corollas pink to lavender or purple, 27–35 mm; stamens included, pollen sacs 1.2–1.7 mm. Penstemon newberryi var. berryi
1 Corollas red, scarlet, or purple, 22–30 mm; stamens: longer pair exserted, pollen sacs 0.8–1.3 mm. > 2
2 Corollas red to scarlet; distal leaves distinctly smaller than proximals. Penstemon newberryi var. newberryi
2 Corollas purple; distal leaves slightly smaller than proximals. Penstemon newberryi var. sonomensis