Penstemon davidsonii is a species of penstemon known by the common name Davidson's penstemon, honoring Dr. George Davidson.[1] It is native to western North America.

Penstemon davidsonii
P. davidsonii var. menziesii, Olympic National Park, Washington

Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Penstemon
Species:
P. davidsonii
Binomial name
Penstemon davidsonii

Description

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Penstemon davidsonii is a low, mat-forming perennial up to 10 centimetres (4 in) tall. The leaves are up to 1.5 cm (58 in) long, thick and firm, usually glabrous, with entire to serrulate margins. The leaves often have a paler green, tan, or reddish edge. The flowers are tubular, blue-lavender to purple, and large relative to the short stature of the plant. The calyx is covered with short hair.[2][3] Larger plants often flower abundantly, with the leaf mat nearly covered with the showy flowers.

Taxonomy

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Penstemon davidsonii is included in Penstemon subgenus Dasanthera, along with P. barrettiae, P. cardwellii, P. ellipticus, P. fruticosus, P. lyallii, P. montanus, P. newberryi, and P. rupicola.[4]

Names

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Penstemon davidsonii is known by several common names. It is occasionally called "Alpine penstemon".[5] The variety Penstemon davidsonii var. davidsonii is commonly called the "timberline penstemon".[6] It shares the name "creeping penstemon" with Penstemon teucrioides.[7][8]

Distribution and habitat

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Penstemon davidsonii is native to North America from the Sierra Nevada Range in California and Nevada through the Coast and Cascade ranges of Oregon and Washington into British Columbia.[9]

It grows on rocks or in rocky soils in sunny mountain locations.[2]

Varieties

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  • P. davidsonii var. davidsonii – Davidson's penstemon
  • P. davidsonii var. menziesii (D.D. Keck) CronquistMenzies' penstemon
  • P. davidsonii var. praeteritus Cronquist – timberline beardtongue

References

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  1. ^ "Davidson's beardtongue". John Davidson — The Legacy of a Canadian Botanist. UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research. Archived from the original on February 27, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Giblin, David. "Penstemon davidsonii". WTU Image Collection. Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  3. ^ "Penstemon davidsonii". Native Plant Information Network. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  4. ^ "Penstemon - Dasanthera Group". North American Rock Garden Society. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  5. ^ Morgenson, Dana C. (1975). Yosemite Wildflower Trails. Yosemite Association. p. 72. ISBN 978-0-939666-27-0.
  6. ^ Wiese, Karen (2000). Sierra Nevada wildflowers. Helena, Montana: Falcon. p. 43. ISBN 978-1-56044-981-2. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  7. ^ Horn, Elizabeth L. (1972). Wildflowers 1 : The Cascades. Beaverton, Oregon: The Touchstone Press. p. 144. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  8. ^ Roberts, Rhoda N.; Nelson, Ruth Ashton (1967). Mountain Wild Flowers of Colorado and Adjacent Areas. Denver, Colorado: Denver Museum of Natural History. p. 42. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Penstemon davidsonii (Davidson's penstemon)". PLANTS Database. Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
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