Penstemon gracilis
 
Lilac-Flowered Beardtongue

Staminode and Style

Junction of Highways #47 and #29
16-June-2006

Note that the corolla and anther-bearing stamens have been removed to reveal the yellow-bearded sterile stamen (staminode) and style.

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Gracilis: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species. 
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plants herbaceous; NOT [plants shrubby, stems woody]

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stems erect or nearly so; NOT [stems decumbent to ascending]

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foliage NOT glaucous

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plants generally glandular-pubescent in the inflorescence, not glaucous; NOT [plants glabrous, glaucous]

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lower bracts lanceolate; NOT [lower bracts broadly ovate to suborbicular]

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flowers NOT so crowded; NOT [flowers in dense terminal spikes or nodal clusters]

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corolla mostly 1.5-2.5 cm long; NOT [flowers about 1 cm long], NOT [flowers 8-12 mm long], NOT [corolla 1.2-1.5 cm long], NOT [flowers mostly 3-4 cm long]

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corolla NOT much expanded towards the tip; NOT [corolla broadly funnelform]

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flowers pale lilac; NOT [flowers bluish purple], NOT [flowers blue], NOT [flowers white, finely purplish lined or spotted], NOT [corolla white]

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style included; NOT exserted

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style NOT long-pilose

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style NOT yellowish

 

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Penstemon: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora (BF) and Flora of Alberta (FOA) leading to this genus. 
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leaves NOT all basal

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cauline leaves opposite; NOT alternate

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calyx 5-lobed; NOT 4-lobed

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corolla NOT spurred at base

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sterile stamen (staminode) present, filamentous; NOT [staminode absent or scale-like]

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four anther-bearing stamens and one long sterile stamen; NOT [two or four anther-bearing stamens and no sterile stamen], NOT [five anther-bearing stamens]

 
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Scrophulariaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora (BF)  leading to this family.
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herbs; NOT [shrubs or trees]

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plants NOT aquatic

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plants green or with some chlorophyll

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stems NOT square

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leaves NOT bearing bladders

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flowers NOT in heads or spikes; NOT [flowers in long or short spikes]; NOT [flowers in heads or in form resembling a head]

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corolla irregular

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ovary superior

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fruit a many-seeded capsule; NOT [fruit with 4 nutlets]