Penstemon scariosus

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}

{{Speciesbox

|image = Penstemon scariosus albifluvis.jpg

|image_caption = var. albifluvis

|status = {{TNCStatus}}

|status_system = TNC

|genus = Penstemon

|species = scariosus

|authority = Pennell

}}

Penstemon scariosus is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common name White River beardtongue. It is native to Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming in the United States.[http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Penstemon+scariosus Penstemon scariosus.] The Nature Conservancy.

There are four varieties of this species, including var. albifluvis (White River beardtongue), var. cyanomontanus (Neese's Blue Mountain beardtongue), and var. garrettii (Garrett's beardtongue).[https://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PESC5 Penstemon scariosus.] USDA Plants Profile. The var. albifluvis is a rare variety limited to northeastern Utah and northwestern Colorado. It is up to 30 centimeters tall and produces lavender or light blue flowers.[http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/Collection/CPC_ViewProfile.asp?CPCNum=7051 var. albifluvis.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026052155/http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/Collection/CPC_ViewProfile.asp?CPCNum=7051 |date=2011-10-26 }} Center for Plant Conservation. The flowers are pollinated by bees.Lewinsohn, J. S., et al. (2007). [http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.3398/1527-0904%282007%2967%5B232:BBAFVO%5D2.0.CO;2 Breeding biology and flower visitors of the rare White River pentstemon, Penstemon scariosus var. albifluvis (Scrophulariaceae).] Western North American Naturalist 67(2):232-237. This variety is a candidate for federal protection because it grows on oil shale, a common source of petroleum.[ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/ID/programs/plant/penstemon_whiteriver.pdf var. albifluvis.]{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} USDA NRCS Plant Guide.