Penstemon clutei is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common name Sunset Crater beardtongue. It is endemic to Arizona, where it is known only from a system of volcanic cinder cones, including Sunset Crater, in Coconino County.[2][3]

Penstemon clutei

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

This perennial herb grows up to 80 centimeters tall.[3] It has waxy, serrated leaves and blooms in tubular pink flowers between April and August.[2]

This plant grows only on volcanic fields around Sunset Crater in one Arizona county. It grows in openings and around Ponderosa pines.[3] It is a fire-adapted species.[4] It may be threatened by off-road vehicle use and by hybridization with other Penstemon.[5]

Aven Nelson first described the plant in 1927 as a subspecies of Penstemon pseudospectabilis M.E.Jones. In 1937 David D. Keck gave the plant a distinct species name based upon its narrow ecological niche.[6]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Plants Profile for Penstemon clutei (Sunset Crater beardtongue)". Plants Database, USDA.
  2. ^ a b Penstemon clutei. Archived 2011-10-26 at the Wayback Machine Center for Plant Conservation.
  3. ^ a b c Penstemon clutei. The Nature Conservancy.
  4. ^ Fulé, P. Z., et al. Response of a Rare Endemic, Penstemon clutei, to Burning and Reduced Belowground Competition. Southwestern rare and endangered plants: proceedings of the third conference; September 25–28; Flagstaff, AZ. In: Maschinski, Joyce; Holter, Louella, editors. 2000. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. Fort Collins, CO (Proceedings RMRS-P-23). pp. 139-152.
  5. ^ Springer, J. D., et al. Population structure and genetic variability of Sunset Crater Beardtongue (Penstemon clutei). February 28, 2010.
  6. ^ Crisp, Debra L. (1996). "Monitoring of Penstemon clutei A. Nels. on Tornado Salvage". United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service General Technical Report RM (1996). pp. 243–246. ISBN 9780788142024.