Characteristics:
Taper-leaved penstemon is a variable, wide-spread perennial found across much of the Pacific Northwest. This variety (variety palustris) appears with bluish or purplish flowers. Plants are often tufted, from 30 to 90 cm tall and and somewhat glandular above to glabrous below, or occasionaly somewhat pubescent.
The leaves are found both at the base and on the stems. The basal leaflets appear in a rosette, and consist of lanceolate to ovate leaves with short petioles (see below). The margins are typically entire, but may also be finely toothed in this variety. The basal leaves may be either glabrous to finely pubescent, and are up to 17 cm long and 4 cm wide. The stem leaves are reduced in size, opposite, and bright green. These are usually sessile or without petioles, and some-what lanceolate in shape.
The inflorescence is glandular-hairy, and consists of several (3 to 7) loose to crowded verticillasters, each of which consists of several to many flowers. The calyx is 4 to 7 mm long, with entire, accuminate sepals. In this variety, the corollas are mostly 10 to 14 mm in length, and the corolla either distinctly flared outward at the mouth or occasionally not greatly flared. The palate is bearded, as is the distal expanded tip of the staminode. The staminode reaches the opening of the tube. The flowers of this variety blue or puplish. The exterior surface of the corolla is glandular hairy. The anthers are glabrous or lightly pubescent, with the sacs dehiscing their full length, and upon opening, spreading opposite and boat-shaped.
Variety attenuatus: The corolla generally measures greater than 12 mm long. Found in wet meadows, ponderosa pine woods, and on open slopes.
Variety palustris: The corolla measures 7-12 mm long. Found in wet meadows.
Taper-leaved penstemon is found in dry to moist meadows or on open or wooded slopes in the foothills to moderate elevation in the mountains.
Taper-leaved penstemon (var. palustris) is found in the southern Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon. It is found in southern Morrow County, as well as Grant and Baker counties.
Variety attenuatus may be found east of the Cascade Mts. in Central Oregon and Washington east through northern Idaho to western Montana.
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