Penstemon fruticosus
Bush Penstemon

Family: Scrophulariaceae (Figwort family)

Photo taken in Tumwater Canyon, dry openly wooded hillside

Flowers:

inflorescence racemose; corolla 2.5 to 5 cm long, blue lavender to light purplish; anthers densely long woolly with tangled hairs

Leaves:

generally acute, entire or toothed; blades 2 to 10 times as long as wide, usually less than 1.5 cm wide; herbage generally more or less hairy or glandular at least on stems or in the inflorescence; larger leaves tending to be clustered near the base of the season's growth (or near base)

Plant:

perennial; woody below; 15 to 40 cm tall. Traditionally a decoction of the plant was used as a wash for rheumatism, arthritis, and for aches or sores by the Thompson.

Habitat:

Distribution of species:

east Cascades

Distribution of genus:

250 species: Largest genus of flowering plants endemic to North America