Penstemon bleaklyi (Bleakly's beardtongue)
Family
PLANTAGINACEAE
Common Name
Bleakly's beardtongue
| USFWS | State of NM | USFS | BLM | Navajo Nation | State Rank | Global Rank | R-E-D Code | NMRPTC Status | Strategy Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | G1 | 3-1-3 | R | SS |
| Overall Conservation Status | Documented Threats | Actions Needed |
|---|---|---|
| WEAKLY CONSERVED | No information |
Surveys for distribution, abundance, threats. |
Counties
Description
Plants perennial, forming loose mats from numerous branched and tangled woody rhizomes; stems ascending-decumbent, 2-8 cm tall, minutely puberulent; stem leaves opposite, sessile, glabrous or with a few trichomes at the base, entire to serrulate, narrowly lanceolate to linear-lanceolate; inflorescence terminal, secund, +/- racemose; pedicels mostly 1-2 mm long, densely pubescent with gland tipped trichomes; sepals lanceolate, 5-8 mm long; corolla lavender, 12-25 mm; stamens included, anthers 1.1-1.3 mm long, dark purple, finely puberulent with scattered longer trichomes, opening across the connective; staminode bearded at the very tip. Flowers in July and possibly August.
Similar Species
Penstemon bleaklyi is unlikely to be confused with any other species unless it is ultimately found to be growing with Penstemon harbourii A. Gray, which is currently known only from high elevations in Colorado. Penstemon harbourii has its staminode bearded for much of its length (vs. at the very tip only), leaves that appear blue-green (vs. green), entire leaves (vs. many leaves totally or partially serrulate), and a corolla that is 2-ridged ventrally (vs. not ribbed).
Distribution
New Mexico: Taos County, Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Culebra Range in the vicinity of Big Costilla Peak. It probably extends into adjacent Colorado.
Habitat
Alpine scree slopes composed of steep, decomposing, reddish, gneissic granite of the 1.69 billion-year old Jaroso Creek formation at known elevations of 12,500-12,900 feet.
Remarks
This plant was discovered in 2012 by Ken Heil and Don Hyder while doing botanical surveys of Rio Costilla Park. The name commemorates David Bleakly, NM botanist and student of the genus Penstemon.
Conservation Considerations
There are no known, direct impacts from human activities. Climate change poses a possible long-term threat since the populations lie near ridge crests where upslope migration is limited.
Important Literature
*O'Kane, S.L., Jr., and K.D. Heil. 2014. Penstemon bleaklyi (Plantaginaceae), a new high-elevation species from north-central New Mexico. Phytoneuron 2014-61: 1-4.
Information Compiled By
Ken Heil 2018
For distribution maps and more information, visit Natural Heritage New Mexico