Search / Plant Profile / Penstemon debilis

Plant Profile

Parachute Penstemon (Penstemon debilis)

Closeup image of Penstemon debilis. Release on file from Laura Smith Photo Credit: Thomas A. Grant III

Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
Legal Status: Federally Threatened
Family: Plantaginaceae
State: CO
Nature Serve ID: 149728
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection:

Description:

Penstemon debilis OKane and J.L. Anderson, the Parachute beardtongue, is a perennial forb of the Scrophulariaceae family. This species lacks aerial stems, has succulent, glabrous, and glacous leaves, and white to pale lavender flowers that bloom from mid June to mid July.

Where is Parachute Penstemon (Penstemon debilis) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Penstemon debilis is found on sparsely vegetated, south facing, steep, and white shale talus slopes of the Parachute Creek Member of the Green River Formation. Soils are a mixture of thin shale fragments and clay. Elevation range is 2400-2800 m. This habitat is extremely isolated.

Distribution:

Penstemon debilis is endemic to Gardield County, Colorado. It is restricted to the Mahogany Zone of the Parachute Creek Member of the Green River Formation in the Piceance Basin. There are five known populations.

States & Provinces:

Parachute Penstemon can be found in Colorado

Which CPC Partners conserve Parachute Penstemon (Penstemon debilis)?

Denver Botanic Gardens

Not Sponsored

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

Amy McMullen at Utah State University has done research on reproductive biology and edaphic endemism of Penstemon debilis.

09/23/2020

Wolfe et al. (2014) evaluated the genetic structure of Penstemon debilis populations and found that while there is no evidence of inbreeding depression in P. debilis populations, the genetic diversity within populations was low compared to closely related species and species with similar reproductive modes.

Katie Heineman

10/19/2017

There are six remaining populations of the parachute penstemon, however two are not considered viable. The entire extent of the species range is a 2 mi by 17 mi area in Garfield, County Colorado (USFWS 2013).

Katie Heineman

10/19/2017

Wolfe et al. (2014) evaluated the genetic structure of Penstemon debilis populations and found that while there is no evidence of inbreeding depression in P. debilis populations, the genetic diversity within populations was low compared to closely related species and species with similar reproductive modes.

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Penstemon debilis is endemic to the Piceance Basin in Garfield County, Colorado. It is restricted to the Mahogany Zone of the Parachute Creek Member of the Green River Formation. Despite fairly extensive surveys of potential habitat, there are only four viable occurrences. The species faces a high degree of threat from gas and oil shale development.

Laura Smith

01/01/2010

Habitat destruction from natural gas production and possible oil shale development is a serious threat for this species.

Laura Smith

01/01/2010

In 1998 the population was estimated at 6750 individuals, but in 2006 that number had dropped to 450-750 individuals.

Laura Smith

01/01/2010

Amy McMullen at Utah State University has done research on reproductive biology and edaphic endemism of Penstemon debilis.

Laura Smith

01/01/2010

The largest documented occurrence of Penstemon debilis is on land owned by Occidental Oil Shale, Inc. They have entered into an agreement with the Colorado Natural Areas Program to protect this species on Mt. Callahan, the site of the largest known occurrence of Penstemon debilis.