Penstemon procerus is a species of penstemon known by the common name littleflower penstemon. It is native to western North America from Alaska to California to Colorado, as far east in Canada as Manitoba, where it grows in mountain habitat such as meadows, often in alpine climates. This herbaceous perennial forms mats of herbage with some erect stems reaching about 40 centimeters in maximum height. There are several varieties which vary in morphology, some more decumbent than others, some of which are known commonly as pincushion penstemons for their matted forms. In general, the leaves are lance-shaped to oval, plentiful around the base of the plant with smaller ones arranged in opposite pairs along the stem. The inflorescence is made up of one or more clusters of tubular flowers with lipped, lobed mouths. Each flower is no more than one centimeter in length and is purple to blue in color, often with a white throat. The outside of the flower is generally hairless, while the inside may be lined with white or yellowish hairs.
Description Littleflower penstemons have a wide range of heights when mature, typically , but occasionally as tall as . Its stems can be hairless or be more or less covered in backwards pointing stiff hairs, but are never glaucous. The flowering stems can either grow straight upwards or lean outwards from the base of the plant before growing upwards, occasionally they may grow along the ground. The non-flowering stems are often numerous enough for form a mat at the base of the plant.
Plants can have both basal leaves, springing directly from the base of the plant, and leaves attached to the stems, but in some plants the basal leaves are not well developed. They might have a somewhat leathery texture and can have rough backwards pointing hairs, be simply hairy, or hairless. Basal leaves and the ones lowest on the stems range from 0.9 to 9 cm long, only occasionally reaching 11.5 cm.
Taxonomy Penstemon procerus was given its scientific name in 1829 by Robert Graham, crediting the work of David Douglas. It is part of the genus Penstemon which is classified in the family Plantaginaceae. It has six accepted varieties.
Penstemon procerus var. aberransNative to Utah. Penstemon procerus var. brachyanthusNative to Oregon and northwestern California. Penstemon procerus var. formosusNative to Oregon, California, and western Nevada. Penstemon procerus var. modestusNative to Nevada. Penstemon procerus var. procerusWidespread from Alaska to Colorado. Penstemon procerus var. tolmieiNative to eastern central British Columbia and eastern Washington.
Penstemon procerus has synonyms of the species or one of its subspecies.
Table of Synonyms Name Year Rank Synonym of: Notes Lepteiris parviflora 1837 species var. procerus = het. Penstemon brachyanthus 1941 species var. brachyanthus ≡ hom. Penstemon cacuminis 1941 species var. formosus ≡ hom. Penstemon confertus var. aberrans 1895 variety var. aberrans ≡ hom. Penstemon confertus var. modestus 1925 variety var. modestus ≡ hom. Penstemon confertus var. procerus 1893 variety P. procerus ≡ hom. Penstemon formosus 1904 species var. formosus ≡ hom., nom. illeg. Penstemon micranthus 1834 species var. procerus = het. Penstemon modestus 1906 species var. modestus ≡ hom. Penstemon pononii 1872 species var. procerus = het. Penstemon procerus subsp. aberrans 1945 subspecies var. aberrans ≡ hom. Penstemon procerus f. albescens 1966 form var. procerus = het. Penstemon procerus subsp. brachyanthus 1957 subspecies var. brachyanthus ≡ hom. Penstemon procerus var. fimbriatus 1872 variety var. procerus = het. Penstemon procerus subsp. formosus 1957 subspecies var. formosus ≡ hom. Penstemon procerus f. jenkinsii 1960 form var. procerus = het. Penstemon procerus var. micrantus 1910 variety var. procerus = het. Penstemon procerus subsp. modestus 1957 subspecies var. modestus ≡ hom. Penstemon procerus subsp. pulvereus 1920 subspecies var. procerus = het. Penstemon procerus subsp. tolmiei 1957 subspecies var. tolmiei ≡ hom. Penstemon procerus subsp. typicus 1945 subspecies P. procerus ≡ hom., not validly publ. Penstemon pulchellus 1898 species var. formosus ≡ hom., nom. illeg. Penstemon spicatus 1872 species var. procerus = het. Penstemon tinctus 1941 species var. procerus = het. Penstemon tolmiei 1838 species var. tolmiei ≡ hom. Penstemon tolmiei subsp. brachyanthus 1945 subspecies var. brachyanthus ≡ hom. Penstemon tolmiei subsp. formosus 1945 subspecies var. formosus ≡ hom. Penstemon tolmiei subsp. modestus 1945 subspecies var. modestus ≡ hom. Penstemon tolmiei subsp. typicus 1945 subspecies var. tolmiei ≡ hom., not validly publ. Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym; = heterotypic synonym
Names The specific epithet, procerus, is Botanical Latin meaning "tall", however the alpine forms of the species are quite short. It is frequently called by the common names littleflower penstemon or little flower penstemon. It is similarly known as the small-flowered penstemon, small-flowered beardtongue, and little blue penstemon. It is also known as tall penstemon, pincushion penstemon, and slender blue penstemon.
Cultivation In cultivation in the UK the cultivar 'Roy Davidson' has won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. It copes with a range of situations, but requires a well-drained medium in full or partial sun.
References Citations
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External links Jepson Manual Treatment Photo gallery