
FIGWORT FAMILY. Scrophulariaceae. 
There are a great many kinds of Pentstemon and some 
of our handsomest and most conspicuous western flowers 
are included among them. They are natives of North 
America, chiefly herbs, sometimes branching below; the 
leaves usually opposite, the upper ones without leaf-stalks 
and more or less clasping; the flowers showy, in long clus- 
ters; the calyx with five lobes; the corolla two-lipped, 
with a more or less swollen tube, the upper lip two-lobed, 
the lower three-cleft and spreading; the stamens four, in 
pairs, and also a fifth stamen, which is merely a filament 
without any anther, but is conspicuous and often hairy; 
the style threadlike, with a round-top stigma; the pod 
usually pointed; the seeds numerous. The common name, 
Beard-tongue, is in allusion to the usually hairy tip of the 
sterile filament. Pentstemon is from the Greek meaning 
five stamens. This name is often mispronounced; the 
accent should be on the second syllable and long. 
An exceedingly handsome plant, a foot 
ee and a half tall, with a stout reddish stem, 
Poutctdenad rather downy and sticky, and dark green 
glandulésus leaves, rather shiny and stiff, and downy 
Lilac, purple on the under side. The flowers are an inch 
ome and a half long, so large that they look 
vn a * like Fox-glove, and are beautifully shaded 
from pale lilac to deep reddish-purple, 
with purple filaments and white anthers and pistil. The 
calyx is reddish, sticky and downy, and the outside of the 
corolla glistens with sticky fuzz. This grows in the moun- 
tains. 
This forms pretty clumps of bright 
z wry color, with several stems about eight 
> de inches tall, smooth below, and smooth 
minor dark green leaves. The flowers are less 
Blue than half an inch long, with a downy calyx 
—— and bright purplish-blue corolla, with a 
’ ” al. ; i i i 
Gh, Cre. © purplish throat. This grows in mountain 
canyons. 
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