Biology:Penstemon palmeri
| Penstemon palmeri | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Plantaginaceae |
| Genus: | Penstemon |
| Species: | P. palmeri
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| Binomial name | |
| Penstemon palmeri A.Gray
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Penstemon palmeri, known by the common name Palmer's penstemon, is a species of perennial flowering plant in the genus Penstemon that is notable for its showy, rounded flowers, and for being one of the few scented penstemons.[1][2] The plant, in the family Plantaginaceae, is named after the botanist Edward Palmer.
Distribution
Penstemon palmeri is native to desert mountains from the eastern Mojave Desert in California , to eastern Nevada, northeastern Arizona, and New Mexico, and north through areas in Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and eastern Washington (state) .[1]
Penstemon palmeri is a drought-tolerant perennial plant, preferring well draining drier soils. It grows in washes and bajadas, roadsides, canyon floors, creosote bush scrub, and juniper woodlands, from 1,100–2,300 metres (3,600–7,500 ft).[1][3]
Description
Penstemon palmeri, Palmer's penstemon, grows erect and may reach 2 metres (6.6 ft) height. The leaves are generally oppositely arranged and have toothed margins. The inflorescence is a panicle or raceme with small bracts.[1][3]
The flower has a five-lobed calyx of sepals and a cylindrical corolla which may have an expanded throat. The staminode is partially hairy. The showy, rounded flower has large pink to violet to blue-purple petals and is fragrant, which distinguishes it from other, similar-looking penstemon. Occasional specimens are red, yellow, or white flowered.[3]
Varieties
There are three Penstemon palmeri varieties:
- Penstemon palmeri var. palmeri - Palmer's penstemon, most occurrences of this species are this variety.[4]
- Penstemon palmeri var. macranthus - scented beardtongue, is endemic to the Great Basin Desert in Nevada[5]
- Penstemon palmeri var. eglandulosus - scented beardtongue, is limited to Utah and Arizona [6]
Ecology
It is evergreen, and it is a larval host to both the Arachne checkerspot and the variable checkerspot.[7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 . USDA Profile - P. palmeri
- ↑ "Penstemon palmeri". Denver Botanic Gardens. http://navigate.botanicgardens.org/weboi/oecgi2.exe/INET_ECM_DispPl?NAMENUM=8464&DETAIL=&startpage=1. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Jepson -P. palmeri
- ↑ USDA var. palmeri
- ↑ USDA var. macranthus
- ↑ USDA. var. eglandulosus
- ↑ The Xerces Society (2016), Gardening for Butterflies: How You Can Attract and Protect Beautiful, Beneficial Insects, Timber Press.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Penstemon palmeri. |
Wikidata ☰ Q2716749 entry
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