Penstemon mensarum
(Mesa Penstemon)
Penstemon mensarum, West of McClure Pass on FR 265, Gunnison Co. 2626
Penstemon mensarum, West of McClure Pass on FR 265, Gunnison Co. 2628
Penstemon mensarum, West of McClure Pass on FR 265, Gunnison Co. 2639
Penstemon mensarum, West of McClure Pass on FR 265, Gunnison Co. 2641
| Scientific Name | Penstemon mensarum | USDA PLANTS Symbol | PEME2 |
| Common Name | Mesa Penstemon, Tiger Beardtongue | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 33725 |
| Family | Plantaginaceae (Plantain) formerly Scrophulariaceae | SEINet Reference |
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| Description |
Life zones and habitat: Foothills to montane (7400 to 10200 ft). Meadows and forests in Grand Mesa area of west-central Colorado, endemic to the area. Plant: Erect, stout unbranched perennial 16 to 20 inches tall with smooth stems becoming glandular at the inflorescence. Leaves: Basal leaves elliptic, oblong or lanceolate-elliptic, smooth and 2-3/8 to almost 8 inches long and less than 5/8-inch wide; few oblanceolate stem leaves. Inflorescence: Elongated, glandular inflorescence with a few to several separated whorls of flowers standing straight out or upward from stem, mostly along one side; each blossom with a short (less than 1/5-inch long), glandular-hairy calyx and 5-lobed corolla less than 3/4-inch long, dark blue to bluish-purple and glandular-hairy externally, hairless internally; staminode (unfertile stamen in center of blossom) with long yellow hairs most of its length; anthers have short stiff hairs. Bloom Period: June to July. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield and American Penstemon Society. |
BONAP Distribution Map
Map Color Key | Colorado Status: Native Endemic |
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Banner photo: Castilleja rhexifolia and a brewing storm over the San Juan Mountains