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Field Guide


Firleaf Beardtongue

Firleaf Beardtongue (Penstemon abietinus)
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Photo by zharkikh; zharkikh; zharkikh; zharkikh
Andrey Zharkikh; Andrey Zharkikh; Andrey Zharkikh; Andrey Zharkikh

Penstemon abietinus

NatureServe conservation status

Global (G-rank): G2
State (S-rank): S2

Utah Wildlife Action Plan status

  • SGCN

External links


General information

Penstemon abietinus or fir-leaf penstemon is a mat-forming perennial herb with lavender-purple flowers blooming from June to early July. This species is endemic to Utah and can be found on loose limestone and gravely soils with pinyon-juniper and sagebrush communities mainly in the Salina Canyon and Fishlake Plateau regions. 

Description

Penstemon abietinus or fir-leaf penstemon is a mat-forming perennial herb with lavender-purple flowers blooming from June to early July. This species is endemic to Utah and can be found on loose limestone and gravely soils with pinyon-juniper and sagebrush communities mainly in the Salina Canyon and Fishlake Plateau regions. 

Phenology

Flowering from June into early July.

Diagnostic characteristics

While Penstemon abietinus is similar to P. linarioides, fir-leaf penstemon has a golden-orange bearded staminode across its full length rather than long yellow hairs at the apex and sparse hairs on the proximal sides. P. abietinus also has purplish-black anthers and no white band along the suture.

Species range

Penstemon abietinus is an Utah endemic mainly known from Salina Canyon and the Fishlake Plateau regions. 

Taxonomy

No, this species does not have taxonomic discrepancies