Penstemon cardinalis ssp. regalis (Guadalupe Penstemon)
Family
SCROPHULARIACEAE
Synonyms
PENSTEMON REGALIS A. NELSON
Common Name
Guadalupe Penstemon
| USFWS | State of NM | USFS | BLM | Navajo Nation | State Rank | Global Rank | R-E-D Code | NMRPTC Status | Strategy Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEN | SEN | S3 | G3T3 | 1-1-2 | R | SS |
| Overall Conservation Status | Documented Threats | Actions Needed |
|---|---|---|
| EFFECTIVELY CONSERVED | No Information |
Status survey to document rarity |
Description
Perennial herb; stems 40-100 cm tall; leaves opposite, thick, to 6 cm long and 5 cm wide, heart-shaped; inflorescence secund (one-sided), the cymules paired, well spaced, 2-flowered; calyx 4-6 mm long; corolla 26-30 mm long, red, narrowed at the mouth, lobes small, the lower bearded with soft, yellow hairs. Flowers May to June.
Similar Species
Penstemon cardinalis ssp. cardinalis has thinner, narrower leaves, shorter calyx (3 mm), blooms from June to July, and is restricted to the rocky slopes and canyon bottoms of the Sacramento, Capitan, and Oscuro mountains. Penstemon barbatus is another red-flowered species in the Guadalupe Mountains, but it has narrow leaves and a funnelform corolla tube, whereas the broad-leafed P. cardinalis ssp. regalis has a somewhat inflated corolla that is constricted at the mouth, resembling a bag with a drawstring partly closed.
Distribution
New Mexico, Eddy and Otero counties, Guadalupe Mountains; Texas, Hudspeth County.
Habitat
Limestone slopes and canyon bottoms in montane scrub, piñon-juniper woodland, and lower montane coniferous forest; 1,400-1,800 m (4,500-6,000 ft).
Remarks
Even though the Guadalupe penstemon is restricted in range, it is locally abundant, and occurs in several remote canyons of the Guadalupe Mountains of New Mexico and Texas.
Conservation Considerations
The remote, inaccessable habitats of this plant offer a great deal of protection from human impacts.
Important Literature
*New Mexico Native Plants Protection Advisory Committee. 1984. A handbook of rare and endemic plants of New Mexico. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque.
*Heflin, J. 1997. Penstemons: The beautiful beardtongues of New Mexico. Jackrabbit Press, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Information Compiled By
Ken Heil, Joey Herring 1999
For distribution maps and more information, visit Natural Heritage New Mexico