Penstemon gracilis (Lilac Beardtongue) - photos and description
General: Stems ascending to erect. The stems are puberulent, the stems, leaves and inflorescence are all glandular hairy. Stems red.
Flowers: Flowers in a terminal panicle, are pale violet, tube-shaped, two-lipped - the lower lip is three-lobed, and the upper lip is two-lobed. We measured flowers to 25 mm long.
Leaves: Stem leaves are opposite, linear, with a few teeth, we measured a stem leaf at 40 mm long and 5 mm wide.
Height: Height listed in Budd's Flora to 40 cm, I measured plants to 34 cm tall.
Habitat: Dry prairies.
Abundance: Common.
Origin: Native.
When and where photographed: The above photos were taken June 13th, sandy prairie roadside, about 70 km southeast of Regina, SK, and June 19th and June 29th, at the Buffalo Grass Eco Reserve, 200 km southeast of our home in Regina, SK.