Penstemon scariosus is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common name White River beardtongue. It is native to Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming in the United States.[1]

Penstemon scariosus
var. albifluvis

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

There are four varieties of this species, including var. albifluvis (White River beardtongue), var. cyanomontanus (Neese's Blue Mountain beardtongue), and var. garrettii (Garrett's beardtongue).[2] The var. albifluvis is a rare variety limited to northeastern Utah and northwestern Colorado. It is up to 30 centimeters tall and produces lavender or light blue flowers.[3] The flowers are pollinated by bees.[4] This variety is a candidate for federal protection because it grows on oil shale, a common source of petroleum.[5]

References

edit
  1. ^ Penstemon scariosus. The Nature Conservancy.
  2. ^ Penstemon scariosus. USDA Plants Profile.
  3. ^ var. albifluvis. Archived 2011-10-26 at the Wayback Machine Center for Plant Conservation.
  4. ^ Lewinsohn, J. S., et al. (2007). Breeding biology and flower visitors of the rare White River pentstemon, Penstemon scariosus var. albifluvis (Scrophulariaceae). Western North American Naturalist 67(2):232-237.
  5. ^ var. albifluvis.[permanent dead link] USDA NRCS Plant Guide.