Penstemon floridus explained

Penstemon floridus is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common names Panamint beardtongue and rose penstemon.^[1]

It is native to the lower mountain and plateau areas of the Mojave Desert, within eastern California and southwestern Nevada. It grows in canyons, arroyos, and sagebrush scrub.

Description

Penstemon floridus is a perennial herb producing erect stems sometimes exceeding 1m (03feet) tall. The thick leaves are lance-shaped to oval, usually toothed and somewhat wavy, and arranged in pairs with bases clasping the stem.

The glandular inflorescence produces showy flowers up to 3 centimeters long and tubular in shape with a wide throat becoming narrowed at the lipped mouth. The flowers are bright pink with a darker lining inside.

Varieties

There are two varieties of this species.

• Penstemon floridus var. austinii — Austin's beardtongue, named for Stafford Wallace Austin, collector of plants and husband of writer Mary Hunter Austin.^{[2] [3]}
• Penstemon floridus var. floridus — Panamint beardtongue.^[4]

External links

• Jepson Manual eFlora (TJM2) treatment for Penstemon floridus
• CalPhotos.
• WHO'S IN A NAME? People Commemorated in Eastern Sierra Plant Names

Notes and References

1. http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=6162 Penstemon floridus.
2. Blakely, L. Who's in a Name - Austin's Beardtongue . Bristlecone CNPS Newsletter November 1999.
3. http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Penstemon+floridus+var.+austinii CalFlora: Penstemon floridus var. austinii
4. http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Penstemon+floridus+var.+floridus CalFlora: Penstemon floridus var. floridus