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Penstemon abietinus

Pennell

Firleaf Beardtongue

G2Imperiled Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.151437
Element CodePDSCR1L010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderPlantaginales
FamilyPlantaginaceae
GenusPenstemon
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-04-16
Change Date2015-06-24
Edition Date2025-04-16
Edition AuthorsFranklin, M.A. (UTHP), rev. A. Frances, rev. M. McCormick (2023) and N. Ventrella (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent5000-20,000 square km (about 2000-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 20
Rank Reasons
Penstemon abietinus is a perennial forb occurring in limestone-derived soils in pinyon-juniper, oak, and sagebrush communities of Utah; in Sevier, Utah, and San Juan counties. Historically, this species was also documented from Sanpete, Wasatch, Emery, and Iron counties, but there is no recent information from these sites. Penstemon abietinus occurs mostly on lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service. While there are no documented threats, it is unknown whether this species is protected. Up to date site surveys are needed to document abundance, distribution, trends, and threats to existing populations, and to search for additional occurrences. Historical populations should be revisited to confirm that plants are extant.
Range Extent Comments
Penstemon abietinus occurs in the western United States, where it is endemic to Salina Canyon and the Fishlake Plateau region of Sevier County, and from a disjunct population in Spanish Fork Canyon of Utah County, Utah (Welsh et al. 2015). A herbarium specimen collected in 1995 also expands the current range into San Juan County (W. Hodgson 9366 (DES)) (SEINet 2025). Historically, it was collected from Sanpete and Wasatch counties in the 1930s, Emery County in 1984, and Iron County in 1990, but there is no recent information from these sites. Range extent was estimated using data from the Utah Rare Plant Database, herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1994 and 2025 (Utah Natural Heritage Program 2021, GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to data from the Utah Rare Plant Database, herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are fourteen occurrences rangewide (Utah Natural Heritage Program 2021, GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025). There are eleven estimated occurrences using a 2km separation distance, which is the distance used by the Utah Natural Heritage Program to delineate populations (UNHP 2023).
Threat Impact Comments
Threats to Penstemon abietinus are largely unknown (Alexander 2016, UNHP 2023). Drought may be impacting this species throughout its range (UNHP 2023). The Utah Division of Water Resources reports that Utah is now in "extreme" or "exceptional" drought which is likely impacting this species in similar ways as it is other perennial forbs in Utah.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Penstemon abietinus occurs on loose limestone-derived gravelly soil in pinyon-juniper, oak, and sagebrush communities, from 1800-2600 meters in elevation (Cronquist et al. 1984, Welsh et al. 2015, FNA 2019).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparral
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
ProvinceRankNative
UtahS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
11 - Climate change & severe weatherUnknownUnknownUnknown
11.2 - DroughtsUnknownUnknownUnknown

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (1)
Utah (1)
AreaForestAcres
418025Uinta National Forest32,698
References (14)
  1. Alexander, J. 2016. The Utah Native Plant Society Rare Plant List: Version 2. Calochortiana. 3: 1-248.
  2. Cronquist, A., A.H. Holmgren, N.H. Holmgren, J.L. Reveal, and P.K. Holmgren. 1984. Intermountain Flora: Vascular Plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A. Vol. 4, Subclass Asteridae (except Asteraceae). New York Botanical Garden, Bronx. 573 pp.
  3. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2019. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 17: Magnoliophyta: Tetrachondraceae to Orobanchaceae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiv + 737 pp.
  4. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  5. iNaturalist. 2025. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2025).
  6. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  7. NatureServe. 2025. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  8. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  9. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2025. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2025).
  10. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). 2024. Gap Analysis Project (GAP) Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.0: U.S. Geological Survey data release. Online. Available: https://doi.org/10.5066/P96WBCHS (accessed 2025).
  11. Utah Natural Heritage Program. 2021. Utah Rare Plant Database. (Accessed 2021).
  12. Utah Natural Heritage Program (UNHP). 2023. Element Subnational Ranking Form: <i>Penstemon abietinus</i> in Biotics 5 database. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia (accessed 16 April 2025).
  13. Welsh, S. L. 1978b. Endangered and Threatened Plants of Utah: A Reevaluation. Great Basin Naturalist 38(1): 1-18.
  14. Welsh, S.L., N.D. Atwood, S. Goodrich, and L.C. Higgins. (Eds). 2015. A Utah flora, fifth edition, revised 2015. Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum, Provo, Utah. 987 pp.