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.

Description

Growth pattern
It is a perennial plant growing  tall.

Leaves and stems
Stems are smooth with narrow inversely lanceolate  leaves.

Inflorescence and fruit
It blooms from April to July.
Dense clusters of tubular, two lipped,  long, blue to lavender-blue flowers are on elongations of the stem stalks.

Fruits are woody capsules.

Habitat and range
It can be found in blackbrush scrub, pinyon juniper woodland, and mountain bush communities to  in southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah.

Ecological and human interactions
"Cyan" + "caul" means "blue" + "stem", referring to the stem color.

It is pollinated by bees and other insects.

References

cyanocaulis
Category:Flora of Colorado
Category:Flora of Utah