Penstemon yampaensis

Plant Information

Species:

yampaensis

Species Authority:

Penl.

Subgenus:

Penstemon

Section:

Ericopsis

Subsection:

Caespitosi

Habit:

herbaceous perennial

Habit Woodiness:

suffrutescent

Lifespan:

long-lived

Habitat Description:

Dry ridgetops in sandstone-derived soils with sagebrush and Utah juniper.

Distribution Range:

Endemic to a small area from McKinnon (Sweetwater County, Wyoming) to south of Manila (Daggett County, Utah).

Soil Type:

Sandstone-derived soils.

Elevation - Min:

1500.00m

Elevation - Max:

2200.00m

Other Notes:

The next of kin to P. acualis is P. yampaensis Penl., and together they may be the most peculiar of all penstemons. These acaulescent penstemons may be closely allied to P. laricifolius Hook. & Arn. of Wyoming and northern Colorado. Penland (Madrono 14: 156-160. 1958) made a comparative study on the pubescence, leaf venation, and corolla shape of P. acaulis and P. yampaensis and concluded that they are more closely alliedto section Cristati (Aurator), through such species as P. dolius, P. pumilus, and P. moffatii, than to section Caespitosi (Ericopsis) where Keck (Bull. torrey Bot. Club 64: 366. 1937) placed P. acaulis.

First Bloom:

June

Last Bloom:

June

Chromosome Number:

2n = 32

References:

Abrams LR. 1874-1956. An Illustrated flora of the Pacific States: Washington, Oregon, and California. Stanford University: Stanford University Press.