Keckiella ternata is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common name scarlet keckiella.
It is native to the mountains of southern California and Baja California, where it grows in several local habitat types, including chaparral and woodland.
Description Keckiella ternata is a shrub often exceeding two meters in height and spreading slightly with wand-like, waxy branches.
The branches bear whorls of three leaves each, or oppositely arranged pairs of leaves. Each toothed, curving leaf is tapered at the base and pointed at the tip, oblong to lance-shaped, and up to 6 centimeters long.
The inflorescence is an array of solid red tubular flowers up to 3 centimeters long. The hairy staminode is visible in the mouth of the flower.
Taxonomy Keckiella ternata was scientifically described in 1859 by Asa Gray, who credited work by John Torrey, and named Penstemon ternatus. It was moved to the genus Keckiella in 1967 by Richard Myron Straw. Together with its genus it is classified in the Plantaginaceae family and it has two accepted varieties.
Keckiella ternata var. septentrionalis – Native to southern and central California Keckiella ternata var. ternata – Native to southern California and Baja California
It has seven homotypic synonyms of the species and one of its varieties.
Table of Synonyms Name Year Rank Synonym of: Notes Keckia ternata 1966 species E. ternata Keckia ternata var. septentrionalis 1966 variety var. septentrionalis Keckiella ternata subsp. septentrionalis 1967 subspecies var. septentrionalis Penstemon ternatus 1859 species E. ternata Penstemon ternatus subsp. septentrionalis 1936 subspecies var. septentrionalis Penstemon ternatus var. septentrionalis 1924 variety var. septentrionalis Penstemon ternatus subsp. typicus 1936 subspecies E. ternata not validly publ.
Names Keckiella ternata is known by the common names scarlet keckiella, blue-stem beardtongue, and bush penstemon.
References
External links Jepson Manual Treatment of Keckiella ternata Keckiella ternata — UC Photos gallery