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Penstemon alamosensis

Pennell & Nisbet

Alamo Beardtongue

G3Vulnerable Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G3VulnerableGlobal Rank
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.149274
Element CodePDSCR1L040
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderPlantaginales
FamilyPlantaginaceae
GenusPenstemon
Other Common Names
Los Alamos beardtongue (EN) Los Alamos Beardtongue (EN)
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 Date2026-03-04
Change Date1997-02-20
Edition Date2026-03-04
Edition AuthorsK. Maybury, rev. J. Ladyman (1997), rev. Soteropoulos (2026)
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent1000-5000 square km (about 400-2000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 20
Rank Reasons
Penstemon alamosensis is a perennial herb found on limestone, in sheltered rock areas, canyon sides and bottoms, cliffs, and slopes. It is endemic to the south-central United States in the Sacramento and San Andres mountains in south-central New Mexico and the Hueco Mountains of adjacent Texas. There are nineteen estimated occurrences, which face low threats from cattle grazing and wildflower collection, mostly due to its remote habitats. Monitoring of populations should be conducted to improve our understanding of reproduction, plant abundance, threats, and trends, as well as continuing conservation measures to protect the taxon.
Range Extent Comments
Penstemon alamosensis is endemic to the south-central United States in the Sacramento (west escarpment) and San Andres (east side) mountains in south-central New Mexico (Doña Ana, Lincoln, and Otero counties) and the Hueco Mountains of adjacent Texas (El Paso County) (NMRPTC 1999, FNA 2019, Heil and O'Kane 2025). Range extent was estimated to be 3415 square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1985 and 2025 (RARECAT 2025, GBIF 2026, iNaturalist 2026, NatureServe 2026, SEINet 2026).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1985 and 2025, it is estimated that there are nineteen occurrences rangewide (RARECAT 2025, GBIF 2026, iNaturalist 2026, NatureServe 2026, SEINet 2026).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, this species is threatened by cattle grazing and intentional collection of wildflowers (NatureServe 2026); however, NMRPTC (1999) notes, "Its habitats are relatively inaccessible and current land uses apparently pose no threat to this species."
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Penstemon alamosensis grows on limestone, in sheltered rock areas, canyon sides and bottoms, cliffs, and slopes (FNA 2019, Heil and O'Kane 2025).

Reproduction

This species flowers from April to June (FNA 2019).
Terrestrial Habitats
Bare rock/talus/screeCliff
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
TexasS1Yes
New MexicoS3Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureSmall (1-10%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranchingSmall (1-10%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
5 - Biological resource useSmall (1-10%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
5.2 - Gathering terrestrial plantsSmall (1-10%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
5.2.1 - Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)Small (1-10%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (2)
New Mexico (2)
AreaForestAcres
Ortega PeakLincoln National Forest11,545
West Face Sacramento MountainsLincoln National Forest41,176
References (12)
  1. 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.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2026. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2026).
  3. Heil, K.D., and S.L. O'Kane. 2025. Vascular plants of New Mexico. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis. 1119 pp.
  4. iNaturalist. 2026. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2026).
  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. Martin, W.C., and C.R. Hutchins. 1980-1981. A flora of New Mexico. 2 vols. J. Cramer, in der A.R. Gantner Verlag, K.G., Vaduz, Liechtenstein. 2591 pp.
  7. NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  8. New Mexico Native Plant Protection Advisory Committee. 1984. A handbook of rare and endemic plants of New Mexico. Univ. New Mexico Press, Albuquerque. 291 pp.
  9. New Mexico Rare Plant Technical Council (NMRPTC). 1999. New Mexico Rare Plants. Albuquerque, NM: New Mexico Rare Plants Home Page. Online. Available: http://nmrareplants.unm.edu (Accessed 2026).
  10. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  11. Sivinski, R., and K. Lightfoot, eds. 1995. Inventory of rare and endangered plants of New Mexico. 3rd edition. Miscellaneous Publication No. 4, Forestry Division, New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Dept., Santa Fe.
  12. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2026. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2026).