Penstemon degeneri (Degener’s Penstemon) Plantaginaceae (Plantain Family) Close ups of Degener’s penstemon (Penstemon degeneris) in flower by Steve Olson. Degener’s penstemon (Penstemon degeneri) in fruit by Steve Olson. Close up of Degener’s penstemon (Penstemon degeneri) seed capsules by David Elin. Ranks and Status Global rank: G2 State rank: S2 Federal protection status: USFS Sensitive, BLM Sensitive None State protection status: Description and Phenology Artwork in progress by Sharon Garrett. Please also see Spackman et al. 1997. General description: Penstemon degeneri is a perennial herb from 25 to 40 cm tall with five or more, slender, leafy, short-pubescent stems and a somewhat woody caudex. The basal leaves are lanceolate, entire, and up to 6 cm long and 16 mm wide (Spackman et al. 1997). The cauline leaves are more linear, more pubescent, and more sessile. The unleafy, sparingly glandular inflorescence is 3 to 10 cm high, with 2 to 10 tubular flowers at the ends of the stems. The dark blue to violet corolla of the flower is gradually inflated, 14 to 19 mm long and 4 to 5 mm wide at the mouth. The corollas are slightly two-ridged on the floor and have straight, reddish guidelines and sparse yellow hairs in the corolla throat. The staminode is also bearded with sparse golden hairs for about half its length. The anther sacs are 2.0 mm across the connective and are longer than wide. The papery calyx is persistent and the dehisced capsules are 7 to 9 mm long, with small, dark brown, irregularly angled seeds (Beatty et al. 2004). Look Alikes: Penstemon degeneri is similar to P. radicosus in appearance, though P. radicosus is limited to Jackson County in northcentral, Colorado, and P. degeneri is found in southcentral Colorado. Penstemon griffinii is the only relative in the alliance in Colorado. It is characterized by
Penstemon degeneri (Degener’s Penstemon) Plantaginaceae (Plantain Family) Close ups of Degener’s penstemon (Penstemon degeneris) in flower by Steve Olson. Degener’s penstemon (Penstemon degeneri) in fruit by Steve Olson. Close up of Degener’s penstemon (Penstemon degeneri) seed capsules by David Elin. Ranks and Status Global rank: G2 State rank: S2 Federal protection status: USFS Sensitive, BLM Sensitive State protection status: None Description and Phenology Artwork in progress by Sharon Garrett. Please also see Spackman et al. 1997. General description: Penstemon degeneri is a perennial herb from 25 to 40 cm tall with five or more, slender, leafy, short-pubescent stems and a somewhat woody caudex. The basal leaves are lanceolate, entire, and up to 6 cm long and 16 mm wide (Spackman et al. 1997). The cauline leaves are more linear, more pubescent, and more sessile. The unleafy, sparingly glandular inflorescence is 3 to 10 cm high, with 2 to 10 tubular flowers at the ends of the stems. The dark blue to violet corolla of the flower is gradually inflated, 14 to 19 mm long and 4 to 5 mm wide at the mouth. The corollas are slightly two-ridged on the floor and have straight, reddish guidelines and sparse yellow hairs in the corolla throat. The staminode is also bearded with sparse golden hairs for about half its length. The anther sacs are 2.0 mm across the connective and are longer than wide. The papery calyx is persistent and the dehisced capsules are 7 to 9 mm long, with small, dark brown, irregularly angled seeds (Beatty et al. 2004). Look Alikes: Penstemon degeneri is similar to P. radicosus in appearance, though P. radicosus is limited to Jackson County in northcentral, Colorado, and P. degeneri is found in southcentral Colorado. Penstemon griffinii is the only relative in the alliance in Colorado. It is characterized by
Penstemon_degeneri_BMP_without_maps.docx