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Home/Species/ Tushar Range Beardtongue

Penstemon xylus

A. Nelson

Tushar Range Beardtongue

G2Imperiled Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.160815
Element CodePDSCR1L6E0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderPlantaginales
FamilyPlantaginaceae
GenusPenstemon
Synonyms
Penstemon caespitosus ssp. suffruticosus(Gray) KeckPenstemon caespitosus var. suffruticosusGrayPenstemon tusharensisN. Holmgren
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.
Taxonomic Comments
Penstemon xylus A. Nelson was determined to be the correct name for the species previously called P. tusharensis N. Holmgren (Freeman 2017). Flora of North America Editorial Committee (2019) also recognizes this species as P. xylus.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x
Review Date2018-07-23
Change Date2001-02-15
Edition Date2018-07-23
Edition AuthorsTreher (2018)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent250-1000 square km (about 100-400 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 20
Rank Reasons
Penstemon tusharensis is endemic to central Utah in the Tushar Mountains. Based on current knowledge, there are less than 20 known occurrences. Most occurrences are threatened by cattle, naturalized mountain goats, and climate change.
Range Extent Comments
Penstemon tusharensis is endemic to central Utah and documented in Beaver, Duchesne, Garfield, Iron, Piute, Sevier, and Uintah Counties, primarily within Fishlake National Forest and the Tushar Mountains.
Occurrences Comments
The exact number of occurrences is unknown but there are about 12 occurrences known based on herbarium specimens, element occurrences, and publications with published localities (Harrison 2016 and SEINet 2018).
Threat Impact Comments
This species is threatened by grazing cattle (including indirect impacts), naturalized mountain goats, and climate change (Alexander 2016a).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Forming clumps on subalpine slopes, in sandy, gravelly, or rocky openings within conifer-manzanita, black sagebrush, and aspen parkland communities. 2150 - 3360 m.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - ConiferWoodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferShrubland/chaparral
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
ProvinceRankNative
UtahS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
2 - Agriculture & aquaculture———
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranching———
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases———
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases———
8.1.2 - Named species———
11 - Climate change & severe weather———

—

Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (1)
Utah (1)
AreaForestAcres
Tushar MountainFishlake National Forest39,992
References (9)
  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. Freeman, C.C. 2017. Nomenclatural novelties and notes in <i>Penstemon</i> (Plantaginaceae). PhytoKeys 80: 33-39.
  5. 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.
  6. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2018. Collections Databases. Online. Available: http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/ (accessed 2018).
  7. Stone, R.D. 1998. Endemic and rare plants of Utah: an overview of their distribution and status. Prepared for: Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission, U.S. Department of the Interior by Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. 566 pp. + appendices. [https://dwrcdc.nr.utah.gov/ucdc/ViewReports/plantrpt.htm]
  8. Utah Native Plant Society. 2003-2006. Utah Rare Plant Guide. Salt Lake City, UT. Online. Available: http://www.utahrareplants.org. (Accessed 2006)
  9. Welsh, S.L., N.D. Atwood, S. Goodrich and L.C. Higgins. (Eds.) 2003. A Utah Flora. 3rd edition. Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, U.S.A. 912 pp.