Graham's Beardtongue
Photo Courtesy of United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Penstemon grahamii
Other common names: Graham's Penstemon
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G2G3
State (S-rank): S2S3
Utah Wildlife Action Plan status
- SGCN
External links
General information
Penstemon grahamii is a Conservation Agreement species known from Duchesne and Uintah Counties, Utah and northwestern Colorado where it grows on white shale ledges and talus slopes of the Green River Formation. This rare species has been documented growing with Eriogonum, horsebrush, ryegrass, and in pinyon-juniper plant communities. Graham's Beardtongue has enormous pink upward facing flowers with an extending hairy orange staminode. The long-term protection and management of this species, along with Whit River penstemon, is detailed in the Penstemon Conservation Agreement, signed by several stakeholders including, BLM, SITLA, UDWR, Uintah County and the USFWS.
Penstemon grahamii is a jewel of the Uinta Basin. A diminutive plant with particularly large flowers, it is unlike any other plant in the state of Utah.
Description
Penstemon grahamii is a Conservation Agreement species known from Duchesne and Uintah Counties, Utah and northwestern Colorado where it grows on white shale ledges and talus slopes of the Green River Formation. This rare species has been documented growing with Eriogonum, horsebrush, ryegrass, and in pinyon-juniper plant communities. Graham's Beardtongue has enormous pink upward facing flowers with an extending hairy orange staminode. The long-term protection and management of this species, along with Whit River penstemon, is detailed in the Penstemon Conservation Agreement, signed by several stakeholders including, BLM, SITLA, UDWR, Uintah County and the USFWS.
Penstemon grahamii is a jewel of the Uinta Basin. A diminutive plant with particularly large flowers, it is unlike any other plant in the state of Utah.
Phenology
Flowers from late May into early June.
Diagnostic characteristics
Penstemon grahamii is unlikely to be mistaken for any other species in Utah. Its combination of large pink flowers an a diminutive herb, combined with its specific habitat of oil shales in the Green River Formation make it extremely unique.
Species range
The narrow range of this species is approximately 10km (6mi) wide by 128km (80 mi) long. The area makes-up a shape that looks like a curved band. The species is known from the area in Utah where the Carbon, Duschesne and Uintah counties meet in the Sand Wash and Nine Mile Creek drainages. The range extends east across the Utah border into Colorado and north to Rio Blanco County, Colorado (USFWS 2006).
Threats or limiting factors
The primary threat energy exploration and development. Invasive species, such as cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) and saltlover (Halogeton glomeratus) are also found at sites where this rare species grows. Additionally, grazing may represent a threat (USFWS 2006).
Taxonomy
No, this species does not have taxonomic discrepancies