Penstemon compactus
Species:
compactus
Subgenus:
Habroanthus
Section:
Glabri
Habit:
herbaceous perennial
Habit Woodiness:
herb
Lifespan:
long-lived
Plant Height - Min:
1.00dm
Plant Height - Max:
2.00dm
Habitat Description:
Limestone-rocky open places in the subalpine zone.
Distribution Range:
Endemic to the north Bear River Range in the vicinity of Tony Grove and White Pine lakes and Mt. Naomi, Cache County, Utah, north to Copper Lake of Franklin Basin, Franklin County, Idaho.
Elevation - Min:
2400.00m
Elevation - Max:
3000.00m
Other Notes:
The close resemblance P. compactus has to P. cyananthus, with its partially dehiscing and pubescent anthers and its densely flowered verticillasters, doubtless indicates a close relationship. At the lower elevational range of P. compactus the two species grow side by side with no evidence of introgression. This would suggest that either they are visited by different pollinators, which is not likely, or there is a sterility barrier. A collection from Wellsville Peak, considered by Keck to belong here, is a high elevation form of P. cyananthus.
First Bloom:
Late June
Last Bloom:
August
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.