Penstemon cyanocaulis

Penstemon cyanocaulis, the bluestem penstemon or bluestem beardtongue, is a perennial plant in the plantain family (Plantaginaceae) found in the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region of the southwestern United States.[1]:165

Penstemon cyanocaulis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Penstemon
Species:
P. cyanocaulis
Binomial name
Penstemon cyanocaulis
Payson
Bluestem Penstemon (Penstemon cyanocaulis), Canyonlands National Park

Description

Growth pattern

It is a perennial plant growing 10 to 22 inches (25 to 56 cm) tall.[1]:165

Leaves and stems

Stems are smooth with narrow inversely lanceolate 1 to 6 inches (2.5 to 15.2 cm) leaves.[1]:165

Inflorescence and fruit

It blooms from April to July.[1]:165 Dense clusters of tubular, two lipped, 1 to 6 inches (2.5 to 15.2 cm) long, blue to lavender-blue flowers are on elongations of the stem stalks.[1]:165

Fruits are woody capsules.[1]:165

Habitat and range

It can be found in blackbrush scrub, pinyon juniper woodland, and mountain bush communities to 7,200 feet (2,200 m) in southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah.[1]:165

Ecological and human interactions

"Cyan" + "caul" means "blue" + "stem", referring to the stem color.[1]:165

It is pollinated by bees and other insects.[1]:165

References
  1. Canyon Country Wildflowers, Damian Fagan, 2nd ed., 2012, Morris Bush Publishing, LLC. in cooperation with Canyonlands Natural History Association, ISBN 978-0-7627-7013-7
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