Single Record

Species: Penstemon glabrescens [Penstemon crandallii subsp. glabrescens][P. fremontii var. glabrescens] [Penstemon linarioides subsp. taosensis]

Comments: In the Watersjed this is the most commonly collected of what traditionally has been identified as a variety or subspecies of Penstemon crandallii. Here we follow the position of William Jennings: “in my opinion, P. crandalii, P. glabrescens, and P. ramaleyi are separable species” (Colorado Native Plants Listserve, 3/3/2020), and of Robert Nold, who also treats this variety as a distinct species (Penstemons, 1999). P. glabrescens has linear leaves mostly glabrous (with hairs, if any, spreading); stem with spreading hairs, not all short and retorse as in P. ramaley); and stands somewhat erect, usually not erect stiffly erect as P. ramaleyi. All of the many records of the species are from the west of the Valley. It is difficult to judge distribution of varieties or subspecies of P. crandallii, since authorities treat them differently, and often SEINet vouches are identified only as "Penstemon crandallii." Note In the most inclusive sense, P. crandallii is mainly distributed in Colorado and neighboring parts of Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, where it follows the Rio Grande drainage only as far as Santa Fe Co.