Penstemon utahensis Family: Scrophulariaceae - Figwort Family Perennial herbs; 3.15” to 2.3' (0.8 to 7 dm) tall Leaves: opposite and basal; simple; basal leaves 0.8” to 4” (2 to 10 cm) long, 1.6” to 8.8” (4 to 22 cm) wide; upper leaves 0.4” to 3.2” (1 to 8 cm) long, 0.08” to 0.8” (2 to 20 mm) wide Flowers: 5 united red or deep pink lobed tubular petals (irregular flowers with upper lip 2 lobed, lower lip 3 lobed) with lobes spreading flat at the opening; 5 sepals; often with showy flowers; bilaterally symmetrical; usually bisexual; 4 fertile stamens, a fifth stamen is sterile; flowers 0.64” to 1” (16 to 25 mm) long Pollinators: hummingbirds; other genera in this family are pollinated by insects (specifically bees, flies, moths and butterflies) Fruits: 2 chambered capsule (dry fruit) Blooms in Arches National Park: April, May, June Habitat in Arches National Park: desert shrub and pinyon-juniper communities Location seen: park road mile 11 to12, Delicate Arch Viewpoint trail, Fiery Furnace Other: The genus name, “Penstemon”, is from the Greek “pen” which means “almost” and “stemon” which means “thread” which refers to the stamens (only 4 of the 5 stamens produce pollen; the fifth stamen is sterile, so it is almost a stamen). The species name, “utahensis”, means “of or from Utah” referring to the origin of the type specimen which was found near Monticello, Utah. The genus Penstemon is large and complex. The family is important because it has many ornamentals and cardiac glycosides can be derived from foxglove. |
Last updated: January 20, 2023