Kremmling Beardtongue / Center For Plant Conservation
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Plant Profile

Kremmling Beardtongue (Penstemon penlandii)

Full view of this small perennial plant. Note the shorter leafy stems and upright fruiting stems. Photo Credit: Carol Dawson
  • Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
  • Legal Status: Federally Endangered
  • Family: Plantaginaceae
  • State: CO
  • Nature Serve ID: 139970
  • Lifeform: Subshrub, Forb/herb
  • Date Inducted in National Collection: 02/25/1988
Description:

Penstemon penlandii, a member of the snapdragon family, can grow up to 10 inches in height. It has 5-15 flowers per stem with purple throats and blue lobes that fade to pink as they age. The only known site for P. penlandii is in Colorado on alkaline shale that weathers into barren clay containing selenium, a soil condition that is inhospitable to most other plants (USFWS 1992). Although Penland Beardtongue does not spread rhizomatously, it has short, well-developed rhizomes that help it stay in place during torrents.

Where is Kremmling Beardtongue (Penstemon penlandii) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Strongly seleniferous clay-shales of the Troublesome Formation; on steep barrens with sparse plant cover, sagebrush badlands. Elev. 7500-7700 ft. (USFWS 1992).This species is associated with: Artemisia (Sagebrush), Persia (Bitterbrush), Chrysothamnus (Rabbitbrush). This species is also found among species such as Astragalus pattersonii, A. bisulcatus, Penstemon cyathophorus and P. strictus as well as horsebrush, winterfat, snowberry and mountain mahogany (USFWS 1992).

Distribution:

A Colorado endemic (Grand Co.). This species is restricted to a narrow, unusual habitat and known from an area of about 2.4 km long and 0.8 km wide in northern Colorado (USFWS 1992)..

States & Provinces:

Kremmling Beardtongue can be found in Colorado

Which CPC Partners conserve Kremmling Beardtongue (Penstemon penlandii)?

  • Denver Botanic Gardens

    Sponsored
    Sponsors Add

    Silver Sponsor

    Anonymous

    Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

    Denver Botanic Garden

    Bronze Sponsor

    Ms. Ann DeBolt

    Mrs. Carl A. Bernsten

    Mr. Elliot Forbes

    Conservation Actions
    Assigned 06/09/17
    • CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

    Conservation Actions

    • 09/23/2020
      • Reproductive Research

    Pollination biology is studied by the Bee Biology and Systematics Lab, an Agricultural Research Service facility located at Utah State University (Laufmann 1994, Tepedino et al. 1999).

    • 09/23/2020
      • Propagation Research

    Seed germination experiments and seed collections have been done by the National Seed Storage Laboratory and the Denver Botanic Gardens.

    • 09/23/2020
      • Orthodox Seed Banking

    Seed germination experiments and seed collections have been done by the National Seed Storage Laboratory and the Denver Botanic Gardens.

    • 09/23/2020
      • Seed Collection

    Seed germination experiments and seed collections have been done by the National Seed Storage Laboratory and the Denver Botanic Gardens.

    • 09/23/2020
      • Seed Collection

    Seed germination experiments and seed collections have been done by the National Seed Storage Laboratory and the Denver Botanic Gardens.

    • 09/23/2020
      • Orthodox Seed Banking

    Seed germination experiments and seed collections have been done by the National Seed Storage Laboratory and the Denver Botanic Gardens.

    • 09/23/2020
      • Propagation Research

    Seed germination experiments and seed collections have been done by the National Seed Storage Laboratory and the Denver Botanic Gardens.

    Nature Serve Biotics
    • 05/02/2017

    Penstemon penlandii is restricted to a narrow, unusual habitat and known only from a very small area (about 5 miles by 1.5 miles) in northern Colorado. The steep topography and nature of the soils make this species' habitat vulnerable to destruction by off-road vehicles.

    Michelle DePrenger-Levin
    • 01/01/2010

    Threats include off-road vehicles and mineral exploration (USFWS 1989, 1992). A large number of the known plants of this species occur in a county road right-of-way, which could be a threat to the species if its presence isn't known to road workers in t

    Michelle DePrenger-Levin
    • 01/01/2010

    This species is known only along small area of Troublesome Creek with approximately 5,500 individuals. (USFWS 1992).

    Michelle DePrenger-Levin
    • 01/01/2010

    Seed germination experiments and seed collections have been done by the National Seed Storage Laboratory and the Denver Botanic Gardens. Pollination biology is studied by the Bee Biology and Systematics Lab, an Agricultural Research Service facility located at Utah State University (Laufmann 1994, Tepedino et al. 1999).

    Michelle DePrenger-Levin
    • 01/01/2010

    A centralized plan for the conservation and management of this species needs to be implemented.

    Michelle DePrenger-Levin
    • 01/01/2010

    Management needs include population monitoring and protection (private lands). Research needs include understanding aspects of its reproductive biology and ecology. Because plants in the genus Penstemon are known for their ability to thrive after ecological disturbances, disturbance research such as prescribed fire may be beneficial for conservation efforts.

    Michelle DePrenger-Levin
    • 01/01/2010

    Seed collection and storage.

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    Nomenclature
    Taxon Penstemon penlandii
    Authority W.A. Weber
    Family Plantaginaceae
    CPC Number 7030
    ITIS 196189
    USDA PEPE25
    Duration Perennial
    Common Names Penland beardtongue | Penland penstemon | Penland's beardtongue
    Associated Scientific Names Penstemon penlandii
    Distribution A Colorado endemic (Grand Co.). This species is restricted to a narrow, unusual habitat and known from an area of about 2.4 km long and 0.8 km wide in northern Colorado (USFWS 1992)..
    State Rank
    State State Rank
    Colorado S1
    Ecological Relationships

    Photos

    Full view of this small perennial plant. Note the shorter leafy stems and upright fruiting stems. Photo Credit: Carol Dawson

    Close-up of purplish seed capsules. Photo Credit: Carol Dawson

    Photo Credit: Scott Dressel-Martin

    Photo Credit: Scott Dressel-Martin

    Photo Credit: Scott Dressel-Martin

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