Penstemon

Wildflowers

Dicots

Eudicots

Asterids

Lamiales

Plantaginaceae

The beardtongues. As might be expected the Penstemon genus has five (penta) stamens, one being infertile and large, with hairs growing on it. It looks like a hairy tongue sticking out of the flower, hence “beardtongue”.

Formerly this genus was placed in the Scrophulariaceae (figwort) family.

P. grinnellii Scarlet Bugler

P. grinnellii Grinnelli’s beardtongue

P. heterophyllus Foothill beardtongue