 |
 Large Beardtongue (Penstemon
grandiflorus) - Large beardtongue is a perennial up to three feet tall from a dense mass of tan roots. The
smooth waxy leaves are opposite each other, and clasp the stem. The largest pair of leaves
is at the bottom of the plant. These leaves are two to three inches long. The flowers also
grow in pairs; these pinkish-lavender blossoms are nearly two inches long. Fruits are
capsules nearly an inch long filled with angular, dark seeds.
Look for large beardtongue in very sandy soil such as found along rivers and old glacial
river deltas. Livestock grazing seems to have little effect on the abundance of this
species.
Beardtongues belong to the figwort family (Scrophulariaceae), which derives its
name from the supposed cure of scrophula and figwarts attributed to members of this family
by the early
herbalist-physicians. Beardtongues are so called because they have a single sterile stamen
that bears a tuft of hairs. This thread-like male organ protrudes from the flower like a
"tongue". There are four fertile stamens in addition, hence the generic name
Penstemon, from the Greek paene, "almost", and stamon, "thread"
(filament) or "almost a stamen." The specific name grandiflorus means
"large-flowered" in botanical Latin. Large beardtongue was first described for
science by the eminent English botanist-naturalist Thomas Nuttall (1786-1859). |
