Penstemon angustifolius

{{Speciesbox

| image = Penstemon angustifolius - Craig Martin 01.jpg

| image_alt = Group of plants with narrow gray green leaves topped with many tubular blue flowers

| image_caption = Flowering Santa Fe National Forest, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico

| status = G5

| status_system = TNC

| genus = Penstemon

| species = angustifolius

| authority = Nutt. ex Pursh

| subdivision_ranks = Varieties

| subdivision_ref =

| subdivision = {{Species list

| P. angustifolius var. angustifolius |

| P. angustifolius var. caudatus | (A.Heller) Rydb.

| P. angustifolius var. dulcis | Neese

| P. angustifolius var. venosus | (D.D.Keck) N.H.Holmgren

| P. angustifolius var. vernalensis | N.H.Holmgren

}}

| synonyms_ref = {{cite POWO |id=60431648-2 |title=Penstemon angustifolius Nutt. ex Pursh |access-date=24 October 2024}}

| synonyms = {{Species list

| Penstemon caeruleus | Nutt.

}}

File:Penstemon_angustifolius_03.jpg

Penstemon angustifolius is a perennial semi-evergreen forb belonging to the plantain family. This species is 1 out of roughly 273 species of Penstemon.{{cite usda plants|symbol=PEAN4 |title=Penstemon angustifolius |date=2 February 2024}}{{Cite web |title=Western USA wildflowers: narrowleaf beardtongue, Penstemon Angustifolius |url=https://www.americansouthwest.net/plants/wildflowers/penstemon-angustifolius.html |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=www.americansouthwest.net}} This species is also known as broadbeard beardtongue. This forb is native to central United States and can be noticed by its brightly and highly variable colored flowers.

Description

Penstemon angustifolius is a herbaceous plant that can grow between {{convert|6 and 65|cm|in|0|spell=us}}, but more often is {{cvt|15 to 45|cm|in|0}} tall. {{cite web |url=http://dev.floranorthamerica.org/Penstemon_angustifolius |title=Penstemon angustifolius |last1=Freeman |first1=Craig C. |date=29 July 2020 |orig-date=2019 |website=Flora of North America |page=113 |language=en |isbn=978-0190868512 |oclc=1101573420 |access-date=24 October 2024}} The stems are thick, waxy, and gray-green with somewhat woody bases.{{Cite book |last1=Welsh |first1=Stanley L. |author-link1=Stanley Larson Welsh |last2=Atwood |first2=N. Duane |last3=Goodrich |first3=Sherel |last4=Higgins |first4=Larry C. |date=1987 |title=A Utah Flora |series=Great Basin Naturalist Memoirs, No. 9 |language=en |edition=First |location=Provo, Utah |publisher=Brigham Young University |page=584 |jstor=23377658 |oclc=9986953694}}

Their basal leaves, those springing directly from the base of the plant, range from 25–90 millimeters in length and 2–18 mm in width, though they are usually longer than 40 mm. They have a leathery feel with a smooth, hairless surface, though occasionally they may be rough in texture. Leaf shapes vary between spatulate, spoon shaped, oblanceolate, like the head of a spear with a tapered base and end, or linear, narrow like a grass blade. The lowest cauline leaves, those attached to the stems, are similar to the basal leaves. The flowers can be a range of colors, from pink and blue to lavender which bloom from April to June.

Distribution and habitat

This species is found in the west-central United States extending from Montana and North Dakota to Arizona, New Mexico, and Kansas.{{Cite web |title=Southwest Colorado Wildflowers, Penstemon angustifolius |url=https://www.swcoloradowildflowers.com/Blue%20Purple%20Enlarged%20Photo%20Pages/penstemon%20angustifolius.htm |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=www.swcoloradowildflowers.com}} They can be found in the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains. They are drought tolerant and live in sandy soil with good drainage. These plants grow near each other in groups that can be found at elevations of 1200–2200 m.

Taxonomy

Penstemon angustifolius was scientifically described and named by Frederick Traugott Pursh, who credited Thomas Nuttall in his publication.

=Synonyms=

Penstemon angustifolius has {{table row counter|id=Synonyms}} synonyms of the species or one of its varieties.{{cite POWO |id=77226016-1 |title=Penstemon angustifolius var. angustifolius |access-date=11 December 2024}}{{cite POWO |id=187148-2 |title=Penstemon angustifolius var. caudatus (A.Heller) Rydb. |access-date=11 December 2024}}{{cite POWO |id=187150-2 |title=Penstemon angustifolius var. venosus (D.D.Keck) N.H.Holmgren |access-date=11 December 2024}}

class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="Synonyms" \|+ class="nowrap" \| Table of Synonyms ! Name ! Year ! Rank ! Synonym of: ! Notes
Chelone angustifolia {{small\|Steud.}} \| 1821 \|data-sort-value=A \| species \| var. angustifolius \| = het. not validly publ.
Chelone caerulea {{small\|Spreng.}} \| 1825 \|data-sort-value=A \| species \| var. angustifolius \| = het.
Penstemon angustifolius subsp. caudatus {{small\|(A.Heller) D.D.Keck}} \| 1939 \|data-sort-value=B \| subspecies \| var. caudatus \| ≡ hom.
Penstemon angustifolius subsp. venosus {{small\|D.D.Keck}} \| 1939 \|data-sort-value=B \| subspecies \| var. venosus \| ≡ hom.
Penstemon caeruleus {{small\|Nutt.}} \| 1818 \|data-sort-value=A \| species \| P. angustifolius \| ≡ hom. nom. superfl.
Penstemon caudatus {{small\|A.Heller}} \| 1898 \|data-sort-value=A \| species \| var. caudatus \| ≡ hom.
Penstemon venosus {{small\|(D.D.Keck) Reveal}} \| 1974 \|data-sort-value=A \| species \| var. venosus \| ≡ hom.
colspan=5 style="text-align: left;" \| Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym ; = heterotypic synonym

class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="Synonyms"

|+ class="nowrap" | Table of Synonyms

! Name

! Year

! Rank

! Synonym of:

! Notes

Chelone angustifolia {{small|Steud.}}

| 1821

|data-sort-value=A | species

| var. angustifolius

| = het. not validly publ.

Chelone caerulea {{small|Spreng.}}

| 1825

|data-sort-value=A | species

| var. angustifolius

| = het.

Penstemon angustifolius subsp. caudatus {{small|(A.Heller) D.D.Keck}}

| 1939

|data-sort-value=B | subspecies

| var. caudatus

| ≡ hom.

Penstemon angustifolius subsp. venosus {{small|D.D.Keck}}

| 1939

|data-sort-value=B | subspecies

| var. venosus

| ≡ hom.

Penstemon caeruleus {{small|Nutt.}}

| 1818

|data-sort-value=A | species

| P. angustifolius

| ≡ hom. nom. superfl.

Penstemon caudatus {{small|A.Heller}}

| 1898

|data-sort-value=A | species

| var. caudatus

| ≡ hom.

Penstemon venosus {{small|(D.D.Keck) Reveal}}

| 1974

|data-sort-value=A | species

| var. venosus

| ≡ hom.

colspan=5 style="text-align: left;" | Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym ; = heterotypic synonym

Ecology

This plant is useful in preventing wind erosion in its native environment. Deer and insects are known to eat parts of the penstemon plant. Native bees especially enjoy this plant and the seeds are used by birds, rodents, ants and bees. Penstemon weevils are an observed herbivore of this plant.Ogle, D., Peterson, S., St. John, L. 2013. Plant Guide for Palmer’s penstemon (Penstemon palmeri). USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Plant Materials Center. Aberdeen, Idaho 83210.

Culture and use

Penstemon angustifolius have been cultivated as early as the 1800s. Native Americans have been recorded to use the plant roots medicinally. Additionally the pigment from the petals has been used to paint moccasins by the Lokota.{{Cite book |last=Stevens |first=Mikel |title=The Heart of Penstemon Country: A Natural History of Penstemons in the Utah Region |publisher=Sweetgrass Books |year=2020 |isbn=978-1591522614 |pages=70–73 |language=English}} This plant can be used in landscaping and as a garden plant in xeriscaping situations.{{cite web |title=Penstemon angustifolius |url=https://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_pean4.pdf |website=USDA NRCS Plant Fact Sheet |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture |access-date=2 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801165208/http://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_pean4.pdf |archive-date=1 August 2017 |url-status=live}}