Penstemon acuminatus var. latebracteatus

Plant Information
Species: 
acuminatus
Species Authority: 
Douglas ex Lindl.
Variety: 
latebracteatus
Variety Authority: 
N. H. Holmgren
Subgenus: 
Penstemon
Section: 
Coerulei
Habit:
 
robust herb
Habit Woodiness:
 
herb
Lifespan: 
short-lived
Plant Height - Min: 
2.50dm
Plant Height - Max: 
6.00dm
Habitat Description: 
Often on sand-dunes in sagebrush country.
Distribution Range: 
Columbia River basin in south-central Washington and adjacent Oregon and the west Snake River Plains, southwest through southeast Oregon and northwest Nevada to north Mineral County and adjacent Nye County Old dunes and sandy sagebrush flats, Upper Sonoran Zone; in Washington from Grant County to Walla Walla and Klickitat Counties; also in Malheur and Harney Counties, Oregon, east to Idaho.
Soil Type: 
Sandy soils.
Elevation - Min: 
650.00m
Elevation - Max: 
1400.00m
Other Notes: 

"The range of P. acuminatus is divided into two regions separated by the mountains of northeastern Oregon. The plants south of this barrier belong to var. latebracteatus, which differs from the typical variety from north of the Ochoco-Blue Mountain uplift in its smaller corolla, its smaller anthers, and its smaller calyx. The Lahontan Basin Section-southern Lake Section plants often develop thick stems. This variety differs from var. acuminatus by having smaller flowers and wide bracts. It is related and similar to P. nitidus." - Holmgren (1984)

Photo by Andi Wolfe ©2014

First Bloom: 
June
Last Bloom: 
June
Chromosome Number: 
2n = 16
References: 
Holmgren NH. 1984. Penstemon and Keckiella. In Intermountain Flora, vol. 4. Ed. Arthur Cronquist et al. Bronx: The New York Botanical Garden. Lindgren D, Wilde E. 2003. Growing Penstemons: species, cultivars and hybrids. American Penstemon Society publication.