Penstemon humilis

Penstemon humilis is a species of flowering plant in the veronica family known by the common names low penstemon and lowly penstemon. It is native to the western United States.

This species of penstemon is found in sagebrush, in pinyon-juniper woodland habitat, and in mountain forests and tundra.

Description Low penstemon is a short species that usually grows a mat of basal leaves from a woody, branching caudex. Its flowering stems are variable and may grow along the ground or grow straight upwards, typically reaching lengths of , but occasionally as short as or as long as .

It has both stem and basal leaves, those attached directly to the caudex at the base of the plant. The leaves are not leathery, but can be either hairless or covered in backwards pointing hairs. The basal leaves and the lowest ones on the stems are usually 1.5 to 10.5 cm long and 2.2 to 3.2 cm wide, but can be occasionally just 8 millimeters long and just 2 mm wide. Each stems can have just one pair of leaves, but more often have two to four.

The flowers are narrowly tubular.

Taxonomy Penstemon humilis was scientifically described and named by Asa Gray in 1862, giving credit to Thomas Nuttall. It is part of the genus Penstemon which is classified in the Plantaginaceae family. It has three accepted varieties.

Penstemon humilis var. brevifolius – Native to Utah Penstemon humilis var. humilis – Widespread from Washington to Colorado Penstemon humilis var. obtusifolius – Native to Utah

Penstemon humilis has twelve synonyms of the species or one of its three varieties.

Table of Synonyms Name Year Rank Synonym of: Notes Penstemon brevifolius 1909 species var. brevifolius ≡ hom. Penstemon cinereus 1913 species var. humilis = het. Penstemon cinereus subsp. foliatus 1945 subspecies var. humilis = het. Penstemon cinereus subsp. typicus 1945 subspecies var. humilis = het., not validly publ. Penstemon collinus 1898 species var. humilis = het. Penstemon decurvus 1965 species var. humilis = het. Penstemon humilis subsp. brevifolius 1945 subspecies var. brevifolius ≡ hom. Penstemon humilis var. desereticus 1993 variety var. humilis = het. Penstemon humilis subsp. obtusifolius 1945 subspecies var. obtusifolius ≡ hom. Penstemon humilis subsp. typicus 1945 subspecies P. humilis ≡ hom., not validly publ. Penstemon obtusifolius 1920 species var. obtusifolius ≡ hom. Penstemon puberulus 1908 species var. humilis = het., nom. illeg., homonym. post. Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym; = heterotypic synonym

Names The species name, humilis, means 'low-growing' in Botanical Latin. Similarly it is known by the common names low penstemon, lowly penstemon, or low beardtongue.

Penstemon humilis

Bron en licentie