Penstemon watsonii

(Watson's Beardtongue)

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Penstemon watsonii, Green Mountain Reservoir, Summit Co. 0362

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Penstemon watsonii, Green Mountain Reservoir, Summit Co. 0355

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Penstemon watsonii, Green Mountain Reservoir, Summit Co. 0374

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Penstemon watsonii, Green Mountain Reservoir, Summit Co. 0350

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Penstemon watsonii, Green Mountain Reservoir, Summit Co. 0367

Scientific Name Penstemon watsonii USDA PLANTS Symbol PEWA
Common Name Watson's Beardtongue, Watson's Penstemon ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 33791
Family Plantaginaceae (Plantain) formerly Scrophulariaceae SEINet
Reference
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Description Life zones and habitat: Foothills and montane (6700 to 9100 ft). Dry, rocky or gravelly soils; hillsides with sagebrush or scrub, sometimes in pine woodlands.
Plant: Erect perennial 10 to 24 inches tall, several stems in a clump; smooth or sparsely hairy stems.
Leaves: Few or no basal leaves: stem leaves are opposite, oblanceolate to lanceolate 1-3/16 to 3-1/8 inches long, and 1/3 to 3/4-inches+ wide with entire margins; sparsely hair or smooth surfaces.
Inflorescence: Blue to violet flowers in a thryse with 6 to 10 verticillasters (similar to whorls); each 5-lobed flower almost 1 inch long, smooth or minutely hairless corolla, externally, and hairy on the lower lip; four stamens with hairless dark purple anthers, staminode (unfertile stamen in center) with small yellow hairs along its length and at tip; short calyx with 5 lobes.
Bloom Period: June and July.
References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, Penstemons.org and American Southwest.
BONAP Distribution Map

Map Color Key
Colorado Status:
Native

© Tom Lebsack 2024

Banner photo: Castilleja rhexifolia and a brewing storm over the San Juan Mountains