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Markagunt Penstemon
General Description:
Another member of the Figwort Family, this is a tall-growing species of penstemon. It has large tubular, blue to blue-violet flowers that have red-violet veins running the length of the corolla. It somewhat resembles another, better known Figwort Family member, the Snapdragon. Opposite, clasping leaves that are long and narrow are distributed along the stem.
Plant Lore:
Penstemons in general are enjoyed for their beauty and not medicinal purposes. There are over 250 species of penstemons in the United States with Utah alone claiming 65 of them and three species occurring at Bryce Canyon National Park.
When and where to see at Bryce:
This species can be found in the wetter mountain meadows in the higher elevations of the park.
Further Reading:
Buchanan, Hayle 1992. Wildflowers of Southwestern Utah. Bryce Canyon Natural History Association. Bryce Canyon, Utah.
