Graham beardtongue (Penstemon grahamii)

Kingdom: Plantae

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Lamiales

Family: Plantaginaceae

Listing Status:   

Quick links: Candidate Info Federal Register Conservation Plans Petitions Life History Other Resources

General Information

Penstemon grahamii is an herbaceous perennial plant within the sub genus Cristati (N. Holmgren in Cronquist et al. 1984). Each plant has one to three stems arising from a taproot. These stems are 7 18 centimeters (cm) (2.8 7.0 inches [in.]) tall. Leaves are borne in pairs opposite each other on the stem and are of two different forms. The lower most pair, the basal leaves, are broadly oval about 2 cm (0.75 in.) wide and petiolate (attached to the stem with a petiole). The remaining leaves, usually two to six pairs, are the cauline leaves. The cauline leaves are oblanceolate to elliptic 2 4 cm long (0.8 1.5 in.) long, 0.6 1.5 cm (0.25 0.6 in.) wide and are sessile (attached to the stem without a petiole). All leaves are entire (smooth margins without lobes) and glabrous (without hairs). P. grahamii has an inflorescence of 3 to 20 dark lavender or pinkish flowers (although occasionally just 1 or 2 flowers are present). Flowers have four fertile stamens and one prominent infertile staminole. Fertile statements lie along the roof of the corolla with U shaped anthers on either side, and extended about the corolla lip. The staminole is densely bearded with golden orange pubescence. Seed capsules are heart-shaped structures, approximately 8-10 mm (0.03-0.04 in.) in length.

• States/US Territories in which the Graham beardtongue is known to or is believed to occur:  Colorado , Utah
• US Counties in which the Graham beardtongue is known to or is believed to occur:  View All

Current Listing Status Summary

Status	Date Listed	Lead Region	Where Listed
		Mountain-Prairie Region (Region 6)

» Candidate Information

Former Candidate Status

Candidate Notice of Review Documents (Showing 5 of 14: view all)

Date	Citation Page	Title
09/12/2006	71 FR 53756 53835	Review of Native Species That Are Candidates or Proposed for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions
05/11/2005	70 FR 24870 24934	Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Review of Native Species That Are Candidates or Proposed for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions; Proposed Rule
05/04/2004	69 FR 24876 24904	Review of Species That Are Candidates or Proposed for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions
06/13/2002	67 FR 40657 40679	Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Review of Species That Are Candidates or Proposed for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Recycled Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions
10/30/2001	66 FR 54808 54832	ETWP; Review of Plant and Animal Species That Are Candidates or Proposed for Listing as Endangered or Threatened,Annual Notice of Findings on Recycled Petitions, and Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions; Proposed Rule

» Federal Register Documents Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 17: view all) Date Citation Page Title 12/19/2006 71 FR 76024 76035 Withdrawal of Proposed Rule to List Penstemon grahamii (Graham's beardtongue) as Threatened With Critical Habitat 09/12/2006 71 FR 53756 53835 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates or Proposed for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions 04/13/2006 71 FR 19158 19159 Proposed Threatened Status for Penstemon grahamii (Graham's beardtongue) With Critical Habitat; reopening of public comment period and notice of public hearing. 01/19/2006 71 FR 3158 3196 Proposed Threatened Status for Penstemon grahamii (Graham's beardtongue) With Critical Habitat 05/11/2005 70 FR 24870 24934 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Review of Native Species That Are Candidates or Proposed for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions; Proposed Rule

» Conservation Plans

No conservation plans have been created for Graham beardtongue

» Petitions

No petition findings have been published for the Graham beardtongue.

» Life History

Habitat Requirements

Penstemon grahamii is restricted to calcareous soils derived from oil shale barrens of the Green River Formation in the Uinta Basin of northeastern Utah and adjacent Colorado (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2004). Graham beardtongue grows on semi-barren knolls, ridges, and steep slopes in a mix of fragmented white shale and silty clay soils associated with the Parachute Creek and Evacuation Creek members of the Green River Formation. It grows in sparsely vegetated communities of pinyon-juniper and desert shrub at elevations ranging from 1,430 to 2,060 meters (4,690 to 6,760 feet). P. grahamii is frequently associated with Pinus edulis (pinyon pine), Juniperus osteosperma (juniper), Atriplex confertifolia (shadscale), Artemesia spp. (such as Wyoming bigsage and low sage), Yucca harrimaniae (yucca), Eriogonum spp. (such as ephedera and crispleaf buckwheat), and Forsellesia meionandra (greasebrush) (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2004).

Reproductive Strategy

Pollinators of Penstemon grahamii include the bees Anthophora lesquerellae, Osmia sanrafaelae, the sweat bees Lasioglossum sisymbrii and Dialictus sp., and the masarid wasp Pseudomasaris vespoides (V. Tepedino, Utah State University, pers. comm. 2005). In addition, a bumblebee of the genus Bombus (Bombus huntii) (V. Tepedino, pers. comm. 2005) visits the species (L. England, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, pers obs. 2003). The most consistent pollinator of these species is likely to be Pseudomasaris vespoides. This unusual wasp (it is a member of the only “vegetarian” wasp family known to science) is an extreme specialist of Penstemon flowers. It collects and feeds its offspring only Penstemon pollen, though it may visit other plant genera for nectar (V. Tepedino, Utah State University, pers. comm. 2005).

» Other Resources

NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

Last updated: June 19, 2013