Penstemon personatus
Encyclopedia
Penstemon personatus is an uncommon species of penstemon
known by the common name Closethroat beardtongue.
The glandular inflorescence
bears tubular purple flowers around 2 centimeters long. Unlike most other penstemon flowers which have wide open mouths, the flower's upper and lower lips come together, closing the mouth. The inside of the mouth is very hairy, including the rough-haired staminode
.
, where it is a member of the mountain forest flora.
Penstemon
Penstemon , Beard-tongue, is a large genus of North American and East Asian plants traditionally placed in the Scrophulariaceae family. Due to new genetic research, it has now been placed in the vastly expanded family Plantaginaceae...
known by the common name Closethroat beardtongue.
Description
Penstemon personatus is a perennial herb producing mostly hairless, waxy stems up to about 50 centimeters tall. The leaves are located in opposite pairs along the stem, the lowermost scale-like. The largest leaves occur near the middle of the stem, are oval in shape and measure 3 to 5 centimeters long.The glandular inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
bears tubular purple flowers around 2 centimeters long. Unlike most other penstemon flowers which have wide open mouths, the flower's upper and lower lips come together, closing the mouth. The inside of the mouth is very hairy, including the rough-haired staminode
Staminode
In botany, a staminode is an often rudimentary, sterile or abortive stamen. This means that it does not produce pollen. Staminodes are frequently inconspicuous and stamen-like, usually occurring at the inner whorl of the flower, but are also sometimes long enough to protrude from the...
.
Distribution
Penstemon personatus is endemic to the northernmost Sierra Nevada of CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where it is a member of the mountain forest flora.