Penstemon barrettiae

Penstemon barrettiae is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common name Barrett's beardtongue or Barrett's penstemon. It is endemic to a small part of the Pacific Northwest of North America.[1][2][3]

Penstemon barrettiae

Imperiled  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Penstemon
Species:
P. barrettiae
Binomial name
Penstemon barrettiae

This species is a perennial herb[3] or shrub[2] growing 20 to 40 centimeters tall. It is hairless and the leaves and inflorescence are waxy in texture. The oppositely arranged, blue-green leaves are stiff and leathery and have smooth or slightly serrated edges. The leaf pairs on the stem are up to 3.5 centimeters long and have clasping bases. The flowers are pink or light purple-tinged and tubular in shape. They are over 3 centimeters long and 1 centimeter wide at the lipped mouth.[3] Flowering occurs in April through June.[2]

Penstemon barrettiae generally grows on cliffs and rock outcrops where the soil is thin. It may anchor in rock cracks and crevices in talus.[1] It is limited to a small area in southern Washington and northern Oregon, where it can be found in the Columbia River Gorge and the Klickitat River canyon. Threats to the species include poaching, road maintenance, herbicides, quarrying, logging, and recreational activity.[2]

This species is named after Almeta Hodge Barrett, who discovered it sometime prior to 1886.[4]

Penstemon barrettiae is included in Penstemon subgenus Dasanthera, along with P. cardwellii, P. davidsonii, P. ellipticus, P. fruticosus, P. lyallii, P. montanus, P. newberryi, and P. rupicola.[5]

References
  1. Penstemon barrettiae. Archived 2011-10-26 at the Wayback Machine Center for Plant Conservation.
  2. Penstemon barrettiae. The Nature Conservancy.
  3. Penstemon barrettiae. Washington Burke Museum.
  4. Slichter, Paul (2016). "Barrett's Beardtongue, Barrett's Penstemon". Flora and Fauna Northwest. Paul Slichter. Retrieved 2017-03-28.
  5. "Penstemon - Dasanthera Group". North American Rock Garden Society. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
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