Page authors: Ben Legler, David Giblin
Penstemon acuminatus
sand dune penstemon, sharp-leaved penstemon
Specimens
Photos

Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest from Chelan and Douglas counties south along the Columbia River to Klickitat County; central Washington to north-central Oregon, also from southeastern Oregon to northern Nevada, east to southwestern Idaho.

Habitat: Dry, open, sandy places at low elevations.

Flowers: April-June

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bumblebees, bees, flies, wasps, hummingbirds

Description:
General:

Herbaceous, glabrous perennial from a short, branched woody base, with several stout stems 1.5-6 dm. tall, the herbage glaucous.

Leaves:

Leaves opposite, thick and firm, the basal leaves tufted, oblanceolate, up to 15 cm. long and 2 cm. wide; cauline leaves sessile and clasping, progressively shorter and broader upward.

Flowers:

Inflorescence of rather dense verticillasters, the bracts subtending the lower verticillasters broad and leafy, the upper ones reduced; calyx deeply 5-parted, the segments lanceolate, entire; corolla bright blue, tubular, 14-21 mm. long, the tube expanded toward the end; pollen sacs glabrous, dehiscent throughout and becoming opposite, 0.8-1.2 mm. long; staminode (sterile stamen) usually yellow-bearded for about 1 mm. toward the tip.

Fruits:

Capsule 7-12 mm. long, excluding the slender beak, which is up to 5 mm. long.

Accepted Name:
Penstemon acuminatus Douglas ex Lindl.
Publication: Edwards\\'s Bot. Reg. 15: t. 1285. 1829.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
(none provided)
Infraspecies:
Additional Resources:

PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Penstemon acuminatus in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.

WA Flora Checklist: Penstemon acuminatus checklist entry.

OregonFlora: Penstemon acuminatus information.

E-Flora BC: Penstemon acuminatus atlas page.

CalPhotos: Penstemon acuminatus photos.

USDA Plants: Penstemon acuminatus information.

39 photographs:
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