Scrophulariaceae

Penstemon acuminatus

Sand-Dune Penstemon

Basal clump of wide leaves, single or clump of stout erect stems bearing clasping leathery leaves. Stems and leaves coated with sticky glands. Leaves deep green, with long sharp tips, stem leaves widely oval, shiny or covered with blue waxy powder. Flowers less than 1 in. long, bright to pale blue or purple, in whorls along upper stem, usually with golden hair on tip of staminodes. Grows in sandy soils in steppe.

• Rarity: Locally Common
• Flowering Time: Late Spring
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Height: 12--24 inches
• Habitat: Shrub-Steppe
• Found In: Steens, East Gorge
• Native: Yes