One of several Peck's penstemon in my garden in Gresham, OR........summer 1998.
One of several Peck's penstemon in my garden in Gresham, OR........summer 1998.
The photo
at right is of Peck's penstemon from near Cold Springs C.G., Deschutes
N.F......July 21, 1995.
Peck's penstemon is a small perennial wildflower with minute flowers. It may be easily confused with its near relatives, P. cinicola and P. procerus var. brachyanthus. It consists of one to several stems which may arise 25 to 70 cm in height from a cluster of sterile shoots at the base.
The leaves are primarily found on the stem. They are entire and linear to slightly elliptical in shape. The leaves are largest on the upper stems, reduced on the lower stems. The leaves at longest may be 5 cm in length.
The inflorescence is open, consisting of 3 to 10 many flowered clusters which encircle the stem. The small flowers are pale blue to lavender, and occasionally nearly white. They are glandular and may be 6 to 10 mm long. The tube is narrow. The staminode is expanded and lightly bearded. The anther sacs split completely and are round in shape at maturity.
Peck's penstemon was named in honor of Morton E. Peck (1871-1958) who was a well known Oregon botanist and botanical author during the early 1900s.
Peck's penstemon is typically found in Ponderosa Pine forests in dry volcanic soil.
This rare penstemon is found along the east slope of the Cascade Mountains in Jefferson and Deschutes counties of Oregon.
