Penstemon cyanocaulis
| Penstemon cyanocaulis | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Plantaginaceae |
| Genus: | Penstemon |
| Species: | P. cyanocaulis |
| Binomial name | |
| Penstemon cyanocaulis Payson | |
Penstemon cyanocaulis, the bluestem penstemon or bluestem beardtongue, is a perennial plant in the plantain family (Plantaginaceae) found in the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region of the southwestern United States.[1]:165
Description
Growth pattern
It is a perennial plant growing 10 to 22 inches (25 to 56 cm) tall.[1]:165
Leaves and stems
Stems are smooth with narrow inversely lanceolate 1 to 6 inches (2.5 to 15.2 cm) leaves.[1]:165
Inflorescence and fruit
It blooms from April to July.[1]:165 Dense clusters of tubular, two lipped, 1 to 6 inches (2.5 to 15.2 cm) long, blue to lavender-blue flowers are on elongations of the stem stalks.[1]:165
Fruits are woody capsules.[1]:165
Habitat and range
It can be found in blackbrush scrub, pinyon juniper woodland, and mountain bush communities to 7,200 feet (2,200 m) in southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah.[1]:165
Ecological and human interactions
"Cayan" + "caul" means "blue" + "stem", referrig to the stem color.[1]:165
It is pollinated by bees and other insects.[1]:165