Penstemon ophianthus

Plant Information

Species:

ophianthus

Species Authority:

Pennell

Subgenus:

Penstemon

Section:

Cristati

Habit:

herbaceous perennial

Habit Woodiness:

herb

Lifespan:

long-lived

Plant Height - Min:

1.30dm

Plant Height - Max:

2.70dm

Habitat Description:

In sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, ponderosa pine, and Gambel oak communities.

Distribution Range:

Northwest New Mexico, southwest Colorado, southeast and south-central Utah (Utah Plateaus), and northern Arizona.

Soil Type:

Sandy, gravelly, or sometimes clay soils.

Elevation - Min:

1500.00m

Elevation - Max:

2250.00m

Other Notes:

Penstemon ophianthus and P. breviculus were considered by Keck (Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 65: 239-242. 1938) as subspecies of P. jamesii. Although P. ophianthus and P. jamesii are very closely related, regard them as separate species because of the difference in corolla length without any overlap and the distinct geographical ranges. The three species Keck placed together can be separated by the following characters. Varieties jamesii and breviculus are included in Holmgren, but not in Nold (1999).

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.