Penstemon species   Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)   North America   Penstemon

                                          April Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Perennial, approximately 1 meter tall including inflorescence; lvs. opposite, ovate-lanceolate, glaucous, glabrous, sessile, the upper connate at base, strongly serrate, to 5.5 cm. long;  infl. paniculate, approx. 3.0 dm. long;  fls. 2.5-3.5 cm. long on pedicels to 20 mm. long, rose-purple; corolla thinly glandular-puberulent outside, tubular, the tube 8 mm. long, throat inflated,  limb 2-lipped, the upper lip 2-lobed and glandular-puberulent on the inside, the lower 3-cleft with a few long hairs at the bases of the petals; stamens 4, the upper two longer; anther-sacs opening lengthwise; filaments glabrous; staminode bearded; calyx 5-parted, half the length of the corolla tube.  (description mine using notes by John Johnson).

Habitat:  Escape from cultivation.  Spring bloomer.  All Penstemons best in full sun.  Need fast drainage; many kinds best in loose gravelly soil with infrequent watering.  Usually short-lived (3-4 years).  (Sunset Editors, New Western Garden Book 1984 p. 401).

Name:  Greek, Penste-mon, five stamens, the fifth being present, although sterile.  (Bailey 888).

General:  Rare in the study area, there being only a few plants growing adjacent to the horse and bike path in Santa Ana Heights.  The plants were only here one year and failed to reappear the next. (my comment).       Spanish New Mexicans boil flowering tops and drink liquid for kidney trouble. Indians made a wash and a poultice for running sores; also steeped tops for colds.  Red Penstemons were boiled and the solution used as a wash for burns.  It is said to stop pain and help new skin to grow.  (Sweet 56).      About 250 species of perennial herbs or shrubs, native in N. Amer., Mex., and 1 species in N.E. Asia, furnishing many ornamental subjects.  (Bailey 888).       Munz, Flora So. Calif., lists 25 native species of Penstemon, mostly of higher elevations.       The largest genus of flowering plants endemic to North America.  (Hickman, Ed. 1050).       Comparison of the gene sequences of various genes, usually those found in the chloroplast of the plant cell has shown that plant evolutionary relationships often differ from the classic anatomy and morphology classifications of the past.  Based upon evidence obtained in studying the Scrophulariaceae, the genus Penstemon has been moved to a new family Veronicaceae.  (Olmstead, Richard G.  "Whatever Happened to the Scrophulariaceae?”  FREMONTIA, A Journal of the California Native Plant Society Vol. 30 No. 2 April 2002 p.13-22).       All of the Scrophulariaceae found in upper Newport Bay will be moved to other families as a result of genetic studies.  I have not done this as yet. (my comments).

Text Ref:  Bailey 888; Hickman, Ed. 1050; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 818; Sunset Editors, New Western Garden Book 1984 p. 401.

Photo Ref:  April-May 92 # 12,13,14,15.

Genus identity: by R. De Ruff.

First Found:  April 1992

Computer Ref: Plant Data 434.

Plant specimen donated to UC Riverside in 2004.

Last edit  8/8/05.

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