Penstemon canescens - (image 1 of 4)
Taxonomy
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Habitat
Primarily in mountains. Dry woods, rocky slopes.
Associates
Distribution
PA, south in mountains to GA, AL, west to southern IN, TN.
Morphology
Perennial herb with erect, finely pubescent or hirsutulous stems to 80 cm. Leaves opposite; basal leaves elliptic or ovate; cauline leaves lance-ovate to ovate, sharply serrate, more or less pubescent, at least the upper ones sessile or broadly clasping. Inflorescence terminal, racemiform, with the lateral branches divergent or ascending; corolla pale purple outside, white with fine purple lines inside, only slightly dilated upwards, the throat flattened and strongly ridged inside.
Notes
Flowers May to June
Wetland indicator: NA (Upland?)
Also called Eastern Gray Beard-tongue. Similar to P. pallidus Small (Eastern White Beard-tongue), which has more pubescent leaves than P. canescens and white flowers with distinct purple lines inside the throat.
References
Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.
The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY
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Michael Hough © 2009 |