Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences

Penstemon superbus A. Nelson
(Superb Penstemon)

Family: Plantaginaceae, formerly Scrophulariaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
Penstemon puniceus Gray

Penstemon superbus is tall, glaucous and many-stemmed from the base. The leaves are connate around the stem and with age the stem and leaves turn a light purple. The basal leaves are larger than the cauline ones and are oblanceolate and petiolate. Penstemon superbus grows in sandy soil at the roadside or just above creekbeds. The flowers are red with nearly orbicular lobes.
Please click on an image for a larger file.



Penstemon superbus, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Burro Mtns., Wild Horse Canyon, May 16, 2007



Penstemon superbus, foliage, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Burro Mtns., Wild Horse Canyon, May 16, 2007



Penstemon superbus, larger plant, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Bill Evans Road, May 21, 2007



Penstemon superbus, growth habit, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Bill Evans Road, April 17, 2009



Penstemon superbus, closeup of flower, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Bill Evans Road, April 17, 2009



Penstemon superbus, closeup of lateral view of flower, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Bill Evans Road, April 17, 2009



Penstemon superbus, closeup of flower, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Bill Evans Road, April 17, 2009



Penstemon superbus, view of throat of flower, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Bill Evans Road, April 17, 2009



Penstemon superbus, closeup basal leaves, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Burro Mtns., East Schoolhouse Canyon, November 25, 2009



Penstemon superbus, capsules, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Burro Mtns., East Schoolhouse Canyon, November 25, 2009



Penstemon superbus, field macro of seeds, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Burro Mtns., East Schoolhouse Canyon, November 25, 2009



Penstemon superbus, growth habit, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Bill Evans Road, April 23, 2010


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