[Penstemons of Mt. Adams Country]

Cascade Penstemon, Cascade Beardtongue, Coast Penstemon, Serrulate Penstemon

Penstemon serrulatus

Inflorescence of Cascade Penstemon, Cascade Beardtongue, Coast Penstemon, Serrulate Penstemon: Penstemon serrulatus

The photo above shows a close-up view of the inflorescence of cascade penstemon as seen along forest road #23 at the Mt. Adams viewpoint at the southwestern corner of the mountain...........July 10, 2005. The flowers are usually found in a single head at the tip of the stem. The anther sacs are horseshoe-shaped and only open at the top. The staminode is flattened and expanded at the tip and typically bears yellow hairs along as much as one-half its length. Those are not seen in this picture.

Cascade penstemon is an upright species of penstemon, with one to several slender stems rising from a woody base to 20 cm - 70 cm in height.

As with most penstemons, the leaves are opposite on the stems. The leaves of Cascade Penstemon are all found on the stems. They have short petioles at the bottom, while those above may be sessile or clasping. The lower leaves may be as long as 90 mm. The leaves may be almost entire to very serrate, lanceolate to elliptic or heart-shaped.

Cascade penstemon typically has a single, tight cluster of flowers at the tip of the flowering stem. However, there may be as many as five well-spaced verticillasters present. The sepals are narrow to ovate, with the margins very finely haired. The corolla is a short tube at the base of the flower which expands greatly to a longer, wider tube. The flowers are strongly two-lipped, to 25 mm long. The flower color is purple to blue.

Areas on Mt. Adams where this species may be viewed:

1. This species is most easy to see along Road 23 at the Mt. Adams viewpoint at the southwest corner of the mountain and along cliffs between the Lewis River Road (#90) and the Lewis River Bridge.

Stem leaves of Cascade Penstemon, Cascade Beardtongue, Coast Penstemon, Serrulate Penstemon: Penstemon serrulatus

The photo above shows the lower leaves of cascade penstemon as seen on loose soils and gravel on slopes above Rd #23 at the Mt. Adams viewpoint at the southwestern corner of Mt. Adams........June 22, 2005. Note the glaucous willow-herb growing next to it at lower right.

Cascade Penstemon, Cascade Beardtongue, Coast Penstemon, Serrulate Penstemon: Penstemon serrulatus

The photo above shows cascade penstemon growing out of a small hole in a concrete barrier as seen along forest road #23 at the Mt. Adams viewpoint at the southwestern corner of the mountain..........July 10, 2005.
Paul Slichter