Synonym(s): Penstemon brittoniorum, Penstemon canescens var. brittoniorum, Penstemon canescens var. typicus
Image ID: 12612
Image by: Cressler, Alan M.
Image Collection: NCBG Digital Library
PLANT INDEX
ID_PLANT: PECA8
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Penstemon canescens
Include in WOTAS: 1
Publish to Web: 1
Last Modified: 2018-11-01
GENUS INDEX
GENUS CODE: PENST GENUS SCIENTIFIC:Penstemon GENUS AUTHORITY: Schmidel GENUS COMMON: Beardtongue GENUS SUMMARY: [contributed by Alan S. Weakley and Dwayne Estes] GENUS IDENTIFICATION: GENUS REFERENCES: Estes (2012)=Y; Clements, Baskin, & Baskin (1998)=Z; Pennell (1935)=P. Key based on Y and Z.
FAMILY INDEX
FAMILY CODE: PLANTA FAMILY SCIENTIFIC:Plantaginaceae FAMILY AUTHORITY: A.L. de Jussieu 1789 FAMILY COMMON: Plantain Family FAMILY SUMMARY: As radically recircumscribed, a family of about 120 genera and 1800 species. FAMILY REFERENCE: Albach, Meudt, & Oxelman (2005); Olmstead et al. (2001); Schwarzbach in Kadereit (2004); Fischer in Kadereit (2004).
NCBG DESCRIPTIVES
INTRO:Erectperennial found in woodlands, glades, forest edges, rocky woodlands and along roadsides. STEMS: Stems 1-several but not branched above base, covered with spreading hairs. LEAVES: Leaves opposite,sessile, elliptic-oblong to narrowly triangular (basal leaves broader), to 5 1/2 in. long, toothed, hairy. INFLORESCENCE: FLOWERS: Flowers in a moderately compact terminalpanicle, with glandular-hairy branches angled upward; pinkish-lavender; 1/2-1 1/4 in. long; bilaterally symmetric; the corollatubular with 2 lips, the upper one 2-lobed and slightly shorter than the lower, which is 3 lobed. Corollathroat white with purple lines inside and a barely protruding yellow-bearded tongue. FRUITS: COMMENTS: Identification of Penstemon species is difficult due to variations in flower characters such as color, patterning, relative length of parts and degree of constriction/dilation of the corolla tube. HEIGHT: 1-2 1/2 ft. DURATION:
Perennial
HABIT:
Herb
LEAF ARRANGEMENT:
Opposite LEAF COMPLEXITY:
Simple LEAF RETENTION: FLORAL CHARACTERISTICS
SYMMETRY:
Bilateral (Zygomorphic)
BLOOM TIME: May-Jul
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
x
x
x
x
x
BLOOM COLOR: Pinkish-white
White
Red
Pink
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Lavender
Purple
Violet
Brown
Not Applicable
x
x
x
FRUITING PERIOD: DISTRIBUTION
HABITAT TYPE: Disturbed, Dry forests, Outcrops and glades, Woods margins
NATIVE RANGE: southeastern United States HORTICULTURAL
Plant Sale Text: Eastern Gray Beardtongue has numerous tubular flowers, typically white with a tinge of pink, held on wiry upright stems above basal foliage. This southeastern native perennial is sometimes seen on roadsides, primarily in the coastal plain and piedmont. Good drainage is essential. As with other species of Penstemon, light self- sowing may occur as a welcome Bonus.
USDA Symbol: PECA8
USDA Common Name: Eastern Gray Beardtongue
Native Status: L48 (N)
Distribution: USA (AL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MD, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, VT, WV)
Duration: Perennial
Growth Habit: Forb/herb
WEAKLEY FLORA
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Penstemon canescens
COMMON NAME: Appalachian Beardtongue
SYNONYMY: [= F, G, S, Va, WV; > P. canescens - RAB, C, K, Pa, W, Z; > P. canescens var. typicus - P; > P. canescens var. brittonorum (Pennell) Pennell - P; > P. brittonorum Pennell - S]
PHENOLOGY: May-Jul.
HABITAT: Woodlands, glades, forest edges, rocky woodlands, roadsides.
COMMENTS: PA and s. IN south to nc. GA, n. AL, and c. TN.
RANGE MAP: Penstemon canescens.png
Key to Map SymbolsABOUT FAMILY (Weakley Flora) Plantaginaceae A.L. de Jussieu 1789 (Plantain Family) SUMMARY: As radically recircumscribed, a family of about 120 genera and 1800 species. REFERENCE: Albach, Meudt, & Oxelman (2005); Olmstead et al. (2001); Schwarzbach in Kadereit (2004); Fischer in Kadereit (2004).ABOUT GENUS (Weakley Flora) Penstemon Schmidel (Beardtongue) SUMMARY: [contributed by Alan S. Weakley and Dwayne Estes] REFERENCE: Estes (2012)=Y; Clements, Baskin, & Baskin (1998)=Z; Pennell (1935)=P. Key based on Y and Z.
HERBARIUM RESOURCES
SERNEC: Find Penstemon canescens in Southeast Regional Network of Experts and Collections (if available) UNC SERNEC: Find Penstemon canescens in
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Herbarium - Southeast Regional Network of Experts and Collections (if available)