Flower ID: IMG_0429.JPG-06-09-2018 Flower name (scientific): Penstemon digitalis Nuttall ex Sims PY: 1825. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) PEN-stem-on dig-ee-TAH-liss Flower name (common): Foxglove Beardtongue Family name (common): Plantain Family name (scientific): Plantaginaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: From the Greek pente for five and stemon for a stamen, hence, having five stamens. Specific epithet: From the Latin digitus for finger, the flowers supposedly resemble a glove, or at least the finger-stalls in a glove. Also, probably referring to plants of the genus Digitalis. Common name origin: Beardtongue refers to the hairy (bearded) staminode (sterile stamen) inside the corolla tube, which supposedly resembles a tongue. The second part of foxglove refers to the flower resembling a finger-stall in shape. Fox might come from the translation from German of Fuch, for Leonhard Fuchs, who first recorded the name. It might also be a translation from the German fingerhut. Flower description: Size: 0.5 to 1.0 inches (1.3 to 2.5 cm) Petal count: 5 Color: white or pink Other: flower arrangement, Panicle Plant description: Size: 12 to 48 inches (30 to 122 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is basal and opposite, type is simple Size: Basal and proximal cauline leaves up to 18 to 25 cm long and 4 to 7 cm wide. Cauline leaves up to 20 cm long and 5 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, spatulate to obovate or lanceolate (FNA) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): May to July Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Prairies, fields, forests, woods, thickets, streambanks, marshes, roadsides, sun or part shade, moist. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Penstemon gracilis (Slender Beardtongue) has some resemblance to Penstemon digitalis, but the latter species has larger flowers and leaves that are typically 40 to 70 mm wide, whereas the former species has leaves that are about 4 to 10 mm wide. Penstemon pallidus (Pale Beardtongue, Eastern White Beard-tongue) a species of special concern in Wisconsin, has a resemblance, but can be differentiated by its cauline leaves having a width of 4 to 24 mm. Ethnobotany: Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: 254.50 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Brown, Crawford, Dane, Door, Eau Claire, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Milwaukee, Oconto, Outagamie, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Shawano, Sheboygan, Taylor, Trempealeau, Walworth, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (NB, NS, ON, QC) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): FAC Wetland Status (MW): FAC