// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Penstemon humilis say? "I'm a little low.
| Penstemon humilis | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Plantaginaceae |
| Genus: | Penstemon |
| Species: | P. humilis |
| Binomial name | |
| Penstemon humilis | |
| Varieties[2] | |
| |
| Synonyms[3] | |
| |
Penstemon humilis is a species of flowering plant in the veronica family known by the common names low penstemon and lowly penstemon. It is native to the western United States.
This species of penstemon is found in sagebrush, in pinyon-juniper woodland habitat, and in mountain forests and tundra.[4]
Description
[edit]Low penstemon is a short species that usually grows a mat of basal leaves from a woody, branching caudex.[5] Its flowering stems are variable and may grow along the ground or grow straight upwards, typically reaching lengths of 5 to 30 centimeters (2–12 in), but occasionally as short as 2 cm (0.8 in) or as long as 65 cm (26 in).[6]
It has both stem and basal leaves, those attached directly to the caudex at the base of the plant. The leaves are not leathery, but can be either hairless or covered in backwards pointing hairs. The basal leaves and the lowest ones on the stems are usually 1.5 to 10.5 cm long and 2.2 to 3.2 cm wide, but can be occasionally just 8 millimeters long and just 2 mm wide. Each stems can have just one pair of leaves, but more often have two to four.[6]
The flowers are narrowly tubular.[7]
Taxonomy
[edit]Penstemon humilis was scientifically described and named by Asa Gray in 1862, giving credit to Thomas Nuttall. It is part of the genus Penstemon which is classified in the Plantaginaceae family. It has three accepted varieties.[2]
- Penstemon humilis var. brevifolius – Native to Utah[8]
- Penstemon humilis var. humilis – Widespread from Washington to Colorado[9]
- Penstemon humilis var. obtusifolius – Native to Utah[10]
Penstemon humilis has twelve synonyms of the species or one of its three varieties.[11]
| Name | Year | Rank | Synonym of: | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penstemon brevifolius (A.Gray) A.Nelson | 1909 | species | var. brevifolius | ≡ hom. |
| Penstemon cinereus Piper | 1913 | species | var. humilis | = het. |
| Penstemon cinereus subsp. foliatus D.D.Keck | 1945 | subspecies | var. humilis | = het. |
| Penstemon cinereus subsp. typicus D.D.Keck | 1945 | subspecies | var. humilis | = het., not validly publ. |
| Penstemon collinus A.Nelson | 1898 | species | var. humilis | = het. |
| Penstemon decurvus Pennell ex Crosswh. | 1965 | species | var. humilis | = het. |
| Penstemon humilis subsp. brevifolius (A.Gray) D.D.Keck | 1945 | subspecies | var. brevifolius | ≡ hom. |
| Penstemon humilis var. desereticus S.L.Welsh | 1993 | variety | var. humilis | = het. |
| Penstemon humilis subsp. obtusifolius (Pennell) D.D.Keck | 1945 | subspecies | var. obtusifolius | ≡ hom. |
| Penstemon humilis subsp. typicus D.D.Keck | 1945 | subspecies | P. humilis | ≡ hom., not validly publ. |
| Penstemon obtusifolius Pennell | 1920 | species | var. obtusifolius | ≡ hom. |
| Penstemon puberulus M.E.Jones | 1908 | species | var. humilis | = het., nom. illeg., homonym. post. |
| Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym; = heterotypic synonym | ||||
Names
[edit]The species name, humilis, means 'low-growing' in Botanical Latin.[12] Similarly it is known by the common names low penstemon,[5] lowly penstemon,[7] or low beardtongue.[4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ↑ NatureServe 2026.
- 1 2 POWO 2026a.
- ↑ POWO 2026b; POWO 2026c; POWO 2026d.
- 1 2 NRCS 2026.
- 1 2 Cronquist et al. 1984, p. 394.
- 1 2 Freeman 2020.
- 1 2 Taylor 1992, p. 50.
- ↑ POWO 2026b.
- ↑ POWO 2026c.
- ↑ POWO 2026d.
- ↑ POWO 2026a; POWO 2026b; POWO 2026c; POWO 2026d.
- ↑ Lindgren & Wilde 2003, p. 52.
Sources
[edit]Books
[edit]- Cronquist, Arthur; Holmgren, Arthur H.; Holmgren, Noel H.; Reveal, James L.; Holmgren, Patricia K. (1984). Intermountain Flora : Vascular Plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A.. Vol. Four. Subclass Asteridae (except Asteraceae). New York: Published for the New York Botanical Garden by Hafner Pub. Co. ISBN 978-0-89327-248-7. OCLC 320442. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
- Lindgren, Dale Tennis; Wilde, Ellen; American Penstemon Society (2003). Growing Penstemons : Species, Cultivars, and Hybrids (First ed.). Haverford, Pennsylvania: Infinity Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7414-1529-5. LCCN 2004272722. OCLC 54110971. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
- Taylor, Ronald J. (1992). Sagebrush Country : A Wildflower Sanctuary (revised ed.). Missoula, Montana: Mountain Press Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-87842-280-7. OCLC 25708726.
Web sources
[edit]- Freeman, Craig C. (2020) [In print 2019]. "Penstemon humilis". Flora of North America. ISBN 978-0-19-086851-2. OCLC 1101573420. Archived from the original on 15 October 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: periodical has ISBN (link) - NatureServe (27 February 2026). "Penstemon humilis". NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
- NRCS (2026). "Penstemon humilis". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 1 April 2026.
- POWO (2026a). "Penstemon humilis Nutt. ex A.Gray". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
- POWO (2026b). "Penstemon humilis var. brevifolius A.Gray". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
- POWO (2026c). "Penstemon humilis var. humilis". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
- POWO (2026d). "Penstemon humilis var. obtusifolius (Pennell) Reveal". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
External links
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