Penstemon bicolor
Encyclopedia
Penstemon bicolor is a species of penstemon
known by the common name pinto beardtongue. It is native to the desert mountains and valleys of southern Nevada
, eastern California
, and western Arizona
, where it grows in scrub, woodland, and other local habitat. It is a perennial herb which may exceed one meter in maximum height. The thick, serrated leaves are oppositely arranged and some pairs are fused around the stem at the bases. The inflorescence
produces tubular flowers around 2 to nearly 3 centimeters long in many shades of yellow and pink, usually with striping in the throats. The flower's throat is hairy and the staminode
just inside is coated in long yellowish 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 pinto beardtongue. It is native to the desert mountains and valleys 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...
, eastern 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...
, and western Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, where it grows in scrub, woodland, and other local habitat. It is a perennial herb which may exceed one meter in maximum height. The thick, serrated leaves are oppositely arranged and some pairs are fused around the stem at the bases. 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...
produces tubular flowers around 2 to nearly 3 centimeters long in many shades of yellow and pink, usually with striping in the throats. The flower's throat is hairy 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...
just inside is coated in long yellowish hairs.