VIOLET BEARD-TONGUE (Penstemon heterophyllus, Lindl.). 

 Flowers funnel-formed, somewhat inflated on one side, 2-lipped 

 an inch long or more, rose-pink sometimes changing to or suf- 

 fused with violet, the buds frequently yellowish; disposed in a 

 narrow bracted panicle terminal on the stems and branches. 

 Leaves opposite, very narrow or lance-shaped. A slender, 

 many-stemmed, smooth perennial, 2 to 5 feet high, woody at 

 the base; common along roadsides and on dry hillsides of Cen- 

 tral and Southern California, blooming in the spring and early 

 summer. 



The specific name heterophyllus given to this beautiful 

 species means "having different kinds of leaves on the same 

 plant." 



Another species Penstemon aziireus, Benth., is very like it 

 and found in similar situations, though commoner northward. 

 It may be known by its rather large flowers an inch across 

 of azure blue, and the glaucous character of the foliage. It 

 is very variable, however, the variety angustissimus, with 

 very narrow leaves, being found in the Yosemite Valley. In 

 both species the anthers are an interesting sight under a glass, 

 resembling minute horseshoes, fringed along the edges. 



205 



