Penstemon gibbensii

Penstemon gibbensii is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common name Gibbens' beardtongue. It is native to the western United States, where it occurs in Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah.[1]

Penstemon gibbensii

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

This species grows up to 20 centimeters tall. It has linear or lance-shaped leaves oppositely arranged on the stems, the longest reaching 9 centimeters in length. The tubular blue flowers are up to 2 centimeters long.[2] Blooming occurs in June through September, typically in response to adequate moisture.[3]

There are a total of nine known occurrences in three US states. The species is limited to a specific type of soil, shale and sandy clay originating from the Browns Park Formation, a geological formation. The soil is yellowish and rich in selenium.[1] The habitat is pinyon-juniper woodland, sagebrush, and greasewood-saltbush. Associated species include Chrysothamnus sp., Oxytropis nana var. obnapaformis, Eriogonum sp., Wyethia scabra, Commandra umbellata, and Leptodactylon sp.[3]

The main threat to the species is grazing by livestock and other animals. Other threats include oil and gas exploration, off-road vehicle activity, and introduced species of plants. The plants may die in drought conditions, as well.[1]

References
  1. Penstemon gibbensii. The Nature Conservancy.
  2. Dorn, R. D. (1982). A new species of Penstemon (Scrophulariaceae) from Wyoming. Brittonia 34(3) 334-5.
  3. Penstemon gibbensii. Archived 2011-10-26 at the Wayback Machine Center for Plant Conservation.
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