In 1748 the genus was named by British citizen and 1735-1746 American resident and plant collector, Dr. John Mitchell.   Almost all botanical sources  indicate that the word "Penstemon" is derived from the Greek "pente" ("five") and "stemon" ("thread").  Penstemons are so named because one of their five stamens, i.e., one of their thread-like structures, is sterile and visually distinctly different from the others. 

     An alternate, but ultimately similar etymology is given by Intermountain Flora: "paene" is Latin for "nearly" and "stemon" is Greek for "thread".  Thus the name means "nearly a thread, i.e., "nearly a stamen".  

     Whatever the derivation, the botanical word for such a structure is "staminode", "a modified stamen which does not produce pollen".  (Intermountain Flora definition.)  You can see this staminode, nearly a stamen, structure at the left in the above photograph.  Notice that the staminode has a few hairs at its tip;  some Penstemon staminodes are very hairy and most project outward from the floral tube.  These two characteristics are the source for one common name for the genus: "Beard Tongue".

Penstemon barbatus subspecies torreyi (Scarlet Bugler) 
Scrophulariaceae (Snapdragon Family)

Semi-desert, foothills. Woodlands, openings. Spring, summer.
Mesa Verde National Park, July 21, 2004.

Penstemon barbatus is very common throughout the lower elevations of the Four Corners area, and it is abundant in Mesa Verde National Park. This is a very tall and lanky Penstemon, often growing to four or five feet with an abundance of flowers opening over many weeks.  Leaves are long and narrow and widely spaced on the stem.  The pictured Penstemon barbatus, is variety trichander. (See below.)

For a very similar species that is also abundant in the Four Corners, see Penstemon rostriflorus.

"Barbatus" is Latin for "hairy" or "bearded" and refers to the  inside of the flower tube.

Daniel Eaton was a nineteenth century American botanist, who collected this plant in 1869 in Utah near Provo.  Asa Gray named the plant in 1872.  (More biographical information.)

Semi-desert, foothills. Openings, shrublands, woodlands. Spring, summer.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, May17, 2009.

Did you ever wonder, "Where have all the flowers gone"?

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Penstemon barbatus

Range map for Penstemon eatonii