Penstemon caespitosus
(Mat Penstemon)
Penstemon caespitosus, Troublesome Creek, Grand Co. 0161
Penstemon caespitosus, Troublesome Creek, Grand Co. 0164
Penstemon caespitosus, Troublesome Creek, Grand Co. 0158
Penstemon caespitosus, Troublesome Creek, Grand Co. 0155
Penstemon caespitosus, Troublesome Creek, Grand Co. 0167
| Scientific Name | Penstemon caespitosus | USDA PLANTS Symbol | PECA4 |
| Common Name | Mat Penstemon | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 33839 |
| Family | Plantaginaceae (Plantain) formerly Scrophulariaceae | SEINet Reference |
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| Description |
Life zones and habitat: Foothills and montane (6000 to 9500 ft); dry sandy, rocky shale soils on hillsides and open areas. Plant: Mat-forming perennial in low tufts to 2 inches tall; slender, prostrate, creeping stems rooting at nodes. Leaves: Narrow, thick linear to obovate or spatulate, leaves up to 3/4-inch long densely covered with short hairs that angle backward. Inflorescence: Blue-purple flowers; corolla has a two-lobed upper lip and three-lobed lower lip and is up to 1/4-inch long; corolla widens below the middle; hairy, white-ish throat; pedicels, sepals and calyx are glandular hairy; narrow calyx teeth angled away from the base of the corolla; four stamens with white filaments and purple anthers; staminode is straight, and densely covered with orange-ish hairs. Bloom Period: May to August. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, American Southwest and Missouri Plants. |
BONAP Distribution Map
Map Color Key |
Colorado Status: Native |
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Banner photo: Castilleja rhexifolia and a brewing storm over the San Juan Mountains