Gibben's Beardtongue
Penstemon gibbensii
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G1G2
State (S-rank): S1
Utah Wildlife Action Plan status
- SGCN
External links
General information
Penstemon gibbensii is known from eastern Dagget county, Utah and from limited populations in Colorado and Wyoming as well. This plant grows on shale slopes along the Green River where greasewood, saltbush and scattered juniper communities occur. Gibben's Beardtongue has medium size blue purple flowers that all bloom facing the same direction off the stem. The entire plant is less than a foot tall and has thin linear leaves that angle upwards and become glandular near the top where the flowers are blooming.
Description
Penstemon gibbensii is known from eastern Dagget county, Utah and from limited populations in Colorado and Wyoming as well. This plant grows on shale slopes along the Green River where greasewood, saltbush and scattered juniper communities occur. Gibben's Beardtongue has medium size blue purple flowers that all bloom facing the same direction off the stem. The entire plant is less than a foot tall and has thin linear leaves that angle upwards and become glandular near the top where the flowers are blooming.
Phenology
Penstemon gibbensii flowers from June to July and all the way to September with enough summer rainfall.
Diagnostic characteristics
This species is not likely to be confused with other species in eastern Utah.
Species range
Penstemon gibbensii is known from fewer than 10 populations in Dagget County, Utah, Moffat and Rio counties, Colorado and from Carbon and Sweetwater counties, Wyoming.
Threats or limiting factors
Summer grazing by large native ungulates was cited as the primary threat to Penstemon gibbensii, though forage production is low and some settings are steep. Grazing exclosure studies at the Cherokee Basin site have documented an initial increase in P. gibbensii numbers since grazing has been removed. Energy exploration and development may pose a serious threat, particularly where P. gibbensii occurs on flatter terrain, including affects of seismic exploration and road development. Exotic species encroachment and trampling by OHV and humans are also threats (Fertig and Neighbours 1996, Spackman and Anderson 1999, Heidel 2009).
Taxonomy
No, this species does not have taxonomic discrepancies