222 The Ohio Journal of Science [Vol. XXI, No. 7, 



1. Penstemon penstemon (L.) Britt. Tall Purplish Beard- 



tongue. 

 Usually puberulent, the inflorescence glandular-pubescent, 2-3 ft. 

 high. Leaves 3-6 in. long, the lower ones narrowed into margined 

 petioles, the upper ones sessile or slightly clasping, acute, oblong or 

 lanceolate, denticulate. Inflorescence usually a many-flowered, open 

 thyrsus; corolla purple or purplish, %-% in. long. Anther-sacs usually 

 glabrous. In fields and thickets. May-July. General. 



2. Penstemon digitalis (Sweet) Nutt. Foxglove Beard-tongue. 

 Usually glabrous, 2-5 ft. high, the inflorescence glandular-pubescent. 



Leaves 2-S3^ in. long, the lower and basal ones oblong or oval, nar- 

 rowed into margined petioles, the upper ones sessile or clasping, lanceo- 

 late or ovate-lanceolate. Inflorescence a many-flowered, open thyrsus; 

 corolla white or purplish, 1-13^ in. long, the limb somewhat 2-lipped, the 

 throat open. Anther-sacs usually barbate. In fields and thickets. 

 May-July. General. 



This is not very definitely separated from the preceding 

 species, and possibly does not deserve specific rank. Specimens 

 collected from the same limited area show smooth stems and 

 barbate anther-sacs, puberulent stems and glabrous anther-sacs, 

 and puberulent stems and barbate anther-sacs. 



3. Penstemon hirsutus (L.) Willd. Hairy Beard-tongue. 

 Stems slender, erect, sometimes tufted, downy-hirsute and more or 



less glandular to the base, frequently purplish, 1-3 ft. high. Leaves 

 puberulent or glabrous, denticulate or the uppermost entire, the basal 

 ones oblong or ovate, narrowed into petioles, the upper ones oblong to 

 lanceolate, sessile or slightly clasping. Inflorescence thyrsoid, rather 

 loose, glandular-pubescent; corolla purplish or violet, about 1 in. long, 

 the tube gradually dilated above, the throat nearly closed by the villous 

 palate. In dry woods and thickets, also on exposed limestone cliffs. 

 May-July. General. 



4. Penstemon cobaea Nutt. Cobaea Beard-tongue. 



Stem stout, densely and flnely pubescent below, glandular-pubes- 

 cent above, 1-2 ft. high. Leaves firm, oblong to ovate, 3-5 in. long, 

 mostly sharply serrate, the lower ones mostly glabrous with margined 

 petioles, the upper ones sessile or cordate clasping, usually pubescent. 

 Thyrsus short, several-many-flowered; flowers about 2 in. long; corolla 

 dull reddish-purple or paler, puberulent without, glabrous within, its 

 tube narrow up to the top of the calyx, then abruptly dilated and 

 campanulate, the limb slightly 2-lipped, the lobes short, rounded, and 

 spreading. Capsule ovoid, acute, pubescent. On prairies. May-July. 

 Lake County. 



5. Penstemon grandiflorus Nutt. Large-flowered Beard-tongue. 



Glabrous and somewhat glaucous with stout stem, 2-4 ft. high. 

 Leaves thickish, entire, the basal ones obovate, narrowed into broad 



