Flower ID: IMG_3886.JPG-06-11-2020 Flower name (scientific): Penstemon gracilis Nuttall PY: 1818. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) PEN-stem-on GRASS-il-is Flower name (common): Slender 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: Latin for slender or graceful. Common name origin: Slender may refer to the leaves, which are fairly narrow, or to the appearance of the flower tubes. Beardtongue refers to the hairy (bearded) staminode (sterile stamen) inside the corolla tube, which supposedly resembles a tongue. Flower description: Size: 0.5 to 0.8 inches (1.3 to 2.0 cm) Petal count: 5 Color: purple Other: flower arrangement, Spike Plant description: Size: 8 to 24 inches (20 to 61 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is opposite, type is simple Size: Basal and proximal cauline leaves up to 7.5 cm long and 1.5 cm wide. Cauline leaves up to 8 to 9 cm long and 1 to 1.5 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, basal and proximal cauline ovate to oblanceolate or lanceolate, cauline lanceolate to linear (FNA) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): June to July Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Prairies, woods, sun to part shade, dry. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Penstemon digitalis (Foxglove Beardtongue) has some resemblance to Penstemon gracilis, but the former species has larger flowers and leaves that are typically 40 to 70 mm wide, whereas the latter species has leaves that are about 4 to 10 mm wide. Ethnobotany: No recorded uses by tribes from Wisconsin. The Lakota used the roots as a snakebite remedy (Moerman, p. 384, 1998). Latitude: 44.796022 Longitude: -91.513568 Altitude: 278.60 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Columbia, Dane, Door, Dunn, Eau Claire, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Marinette, Marquette, Monroe, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, St. Croix, Trempealeau, Walworth, Waushara, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (CO, IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, MT, ND, NE, NM, SD, WI, WY) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (AB, BC, MB, ON, SK) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): UPL Wetland Status (MW): UPL