Penstemon pahutensis
Encyclopedia
Penstemon pahutensis is a species of penstemon
known by the common name Pahute Mesa beardtongue, or simply Pahute beardtongue. It is native to the desert hills and mountains of southern Nevada
, including the Pahute Mesa
for which it is named. It can also be found in a few areas over the border in California
. It is a perennial herb growing up to 35 centimeters tall. The paired, narrow leaves are linear to lance-shaped and up to 10 centimeters long. The inflorescence
bears blue-purple flowers up to 3 centimeters long. The inside of the wide mouth of the flower is lined with white or yellow hairs, and the staminode
is coated in yellow hairs.
Penstemon
Penstemon , Beard-tongue, is a large genus of North American and East Asian plants traditionally placed in the Scrophulariaceae family. Due to new genetic research, it has now been placed in the vastly expanded family Plantaginaceae...
known by the common name Pahute Mesa beardtongue, or simply Pahute beardtongue. It is native to the desert hills and mountains of southern Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, including the Pahute Mesa
Pahute Mesa
Pahute Mesa is one of four major nuclear test regions within the Nevada Test Site , and is divided into two sections: Area 19 and Area 20...
for which it is named. It can also be found in a few areas over the border in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It is a perennial herb growing up to 35 centimeters tall. The paired, narrow leaves are linear to lance-shaped and up to 10 centimeters long. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
bears blue-purple flowers up to 3 centimeters long. The inside of the wide mouth of the flower is lined with white or yellow hairs, and the staminode
Staminode
In botany, a staminode is an often rudimentary, sterile or abortive stamen. This means that it does not produce pollen. Staminodes are frequently inconspicuous and stamen-like, usually occurring at the inner whorl of the flower, but are also sometimes long enough to protrude from the...
is coated in yellow hairs.