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Penstemon lemhiensis

(Keck) Keck & Cronq.

Lemhi Beardtongue

G3Vulnerable Found in 6 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G3VulnerableGlobal Rank
HighThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.149938
Element CodePDSCR1L3N0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderPlantaginales
FamilyPlantaginaceae
GenusPenstemon
Other Common Names
Lemhi Penstemon (EN) Lemhi penstemon (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 MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x
Review Date2018-02-20
Change Date1988-12-16
Edition Date2018-02-20
Edition AuthorsHeidel, B., rev. A. Tomaino (2018)
Threat ImpactHigh
Range Extent5000-20,000 square km (about 2000-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank Reasons
Regional endemic of southwest Montana and adjacent Idaho. Threats include spotted knapweed invasion, and suppression of fire and other natural disturbance regimes. Populations that have been studied appear relatively stable.
Range Extent Comments
Regional endemic of Lemhi county, Idaho; and Beaverhead, Deer Lodge, Ravalli and Silverbow counties, Montana.
Occurrences Comments
In Idaho, there are 101 occurrences (NatureServe Network Database as of November 2017). In 2001, Heidel and Shelly reported 89 occurrences in Montana. As of 2018, there are 465 observations in Montana (Montana Natural Heritage Program 2018) which may represent approximately 100 occurrences in the state.
Threat Impact Comments
Threats include noxious weed invasion (primarily spotted knapweed, Centaurea stoebe), suppression of fire and other natural disturbance regimes, indiscriminate spraying of herbicides, grazing and logging under some conditions, road construction/maintenance, and potential mining activity (Heidel and Shelly 2001; Montana Natural Heritage Program 2018). At Big Hole National Battlefield, "spotted knapweed remains a concern, but the weed control strategy initiated after an alarming 2012 spike, appears to be keeping that infestation at bay" (Rodhouse 2016; National Park Service 2017). "During recent hot, dry years, plant mortality increased and regeneration from seed decreased, raising the possibility of future decline with altered climatic conditions" (National Park Service 2017). Conifer encroachment needs further study as to the relationship with Penstemon lemhiensis, whether positive, negative, or neutral (J. Salix, pers. comm., 2018).
Ecology & Habitat

Description

Lemhi beardtongue is a large perennial, with 1 to several stems reaching 70 cm in height and arising from a branched rootstock and short taproot. The leaves are narrowly lance-shaped and untoothed. Stalks of the basal leaves are up to 16 cm long, while the opposite stem leaves lack stalks and become smaller up the stem. Herbage is lightly covered with small hairs and occasionally a thin, bluish wax. Clusters of several short-stalked flowers are borne in the axils of upper leaves. The bright blue, tubular corolla is flared and two-lipped at the mouth and 25-35 mm long. The lance-shaped calyx segments taper to a long tip, are 7-11 mm long, and have a narrow white margin. Anthers are hairy with short pubescence, and the staminode is glabrous.

Diagnostic Characteristics

There are three species of tall beardtongues with large, bright blue flowers in southwest Montana. Penstemon lemhiensis can be distinguished by its narrow, tapered calyx segments greater than 7 mm long, and glabrous sterile stamen (staminode). Penstemon lemhiensis is a tall, conspicuous species; when in full bloom, it is easy to see during field surveys. The most reliable distinguishing features include: a.) the large, bright blue corollas, b.) the sharp, narrow, elongated tips on the calyx lobes, and c.) the lack of hairs on the staminode (sterile filament). Penstemon lemhiensis is very distinctive in comparison to other species that are frequently encountered during field surveys (especially P. aridus, P. procerus, and P. radicosus). These latter species are smaller in stature, have smaller flowers, and differ with respect to the other floral features.

Habitat

Community types include: 1) eep-soil rangeland, 2) shallow-soil rangeland, 3) deep-soil Douglas-fir opening, 4) shallow-soil Douglas-fir opening, 5) high elevation lodgepole/limber pine openings, 6) Ponderosa pine savanna, and 7) alluvial fan Ponderosa pine. Some populations grow partially or entirely on roadbanks.

Ecology

Occurs in a wide array of habitats open to sunlight and subject to various natural disturbances with an elevational amplitude of 5000 feet. Populations growing at recent burned sites are more densely populated than adjacent stands that did not burn.

Reproduction

The flowers are protandrous; anthers begin to shed pollen approximately two days before the stigma becomes sticky and receptive (Ramstetter 1983). The seeds have no appendages that might aid in long distance dispersal. It is likely that most seeds simply fall directly to the ground from the dehisced capsules.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest EdgeWoodland - ConiferGrassland/herbaceous
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
MontanaS3Yes
IdahoS3Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureRestricted (11-30%)Slight or 1-10% pop. decline—
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranchingRestricted (11-30%)Slight or 1-10% pop. decline—
3 - Energy production & miningSmall (1-10%)Slight or 1-10% pop. decline—
3.2 - Mining & quarryingSmall (1-10%)Slight or 1-10% pop. decline—
4 - Transportation & service corridorsRestricted (11-30%)Slight or 1-10% pop. decline—
4.1 - Roads & railroadsRestricted (11-30%)Slight or 1-10% pop. decline—
5 - Biological resource useRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline—
5.3 - Logging & wood harvestingRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline—
7 - Natural system modificationsLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline—
7.1 - Fire & fire suppressionLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline—
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline—
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline—
11 - Climate change & severe weatherRestricted (11-30%)Moderate - slight—

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (6)
Idaho (1)
AreaForestAcres
Lemhi RangeSalmon-Challis National Forest308,533
Montana (5)
AreaForestAcres
Allan Mountain (01946)Bitterroot National Forest104,184
Italian PeakBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest90,401
North Big HoleBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest52,227
West Big HoleBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest133,563
West PioneerBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest248,631
References (30)
  1. Achuff, P. L. 1992. Demographic monitoring of PENSTEMON LEMHIENSIS, Dillon Resource Area, Bureau of Land Management: establishment and progress report. Unpublished report for the Bureau of Land Management. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 11 pp.
  2. Achuff, P. L., and J. S. Shelly. 1991. Demographic monitoring of <i>Penstemon lemhiensis</i>, Beaverhead National Forest, 1990 progress report. Unpublished report on file at Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 34 pp.
  3. ACZ, Inc. 1990. Beartrack Project vegetation technical report. Prepared for: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Salmon National Forest, Salmon, ID, and Meridian Minerals, Englewood, CO. Steamboat Springs, CO: ACZ Inc., Engineering and Environmental Services. Draft.
  4. Atwood, D., and N. Charlesworth. 1987. Status report for <i>Penstemon lemhiensis</i>. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Region, Ogden, UT. Not paged.
  5. Elzinga, C. 1997. Habitat conservation assessment and conservation strategy - Lemhi penstemon (<i>Penstemon lemhiensis</i>). USDA Forest Service and USDI Bureau of Land Management. 46 pp. + app.
  6. Heidel, B., and J.S. Shelly. 2001. The effects of fire on Lemhi penstemon (<i>Penstemon lemhiensis</i>) - final monitoring report, 1995-2000. Report to the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and the Dillon Field Office - Bureau of Land Managment. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena. 22 pp + appendices.
  7. Heidel, B. L. and J. S. Shelly. 1993. Demographic monitoring of PENSTEMON LEMHIENSIS, Dillon Resource Area, Bureau of Land Management: 1992 progress report. Unpublished report to the Bureau of Land Management, Dillon Resource Area. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 18 pp.
  8. Heidel, B. L. and J. S. Shelly. 1997. The effects of fire on PENSTEMON LEMHIENSIS - monitoring establishment report, 1995 and 1996. Unpublished report to the Beaverhead National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, Montana. 11 pp. plus appendices.
  9. Henderson, D. M. 1982. Rare plant survey of the Challis National Forest. Supplement No. 1. University of Idaho, Moscow. 7 pp.
  10. 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.
  11. Keck, D.D., and A. Cronquist. 1957. Studies in <i>Penstemon </i>IX. Notes on northwestern American species. Brittonia 8: 247-250.
  12. Lesica, P. 1992k. Vascular plant and sensitive plant species inventory for the Highland Mountains, Deerlodge National Forest. Unpublished report prepared for the Deerlodge National Forest. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 21 pp. plus appendices, photographs.
  13. Lesica, P. 1994d. Sensitive plant survey of BLM Lands along the Big Hole River and in the Whitehall Valley. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 13 pp.
  14. Montana Natural Heritage Program. 2018. Montana Field Guide. Online. Available: http://fieldguide.mt.gov (Accessed 2018).
  15. Moseley, R. K., M. Mancuso, and J. Hilty. 1990a. Field investigation and status survey of <i>Penstemon lemhiensis</i> (Lemhi penstemon) in Idaho. Conservation Data Center, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Boise. 17 pp. plus appendices.
  16. National Park Service. 2017. Lemhi Penstemon and Spotted Knapweed Monitoring, Big Hole National Battlefield. Upper Columbia Basin Network, Moscow, ID.  
  17. Ramstetter, J. 1983. An ecological study of the regional endemic <i>Penstemon lemhiensis</i> (Keck) Keck &amp; Cronq. (Scrophulariaceae). Unpublished M.A. thesis, University of Montana, Missoula. 116 pp.
  18. Ramstetter, J., and K. M. Peterson. 1984a. Rarity in <i>Penstemon lemhiensis</i> (Keck) Keck &amp; Cronq. In: Abstracts, Annual meeting of the Botanical Society of America; 1984 August 5-9; Fort Collins, CO. American Journal of Botany. 71(5 Part 2): 69. Abstract.
  19. Ramstetter, J., and K. M. Peterson. 1984b. Pollination biology of <i>Penstemon lemhiensis</i> (Keck) Keck &amp; Cronq. In: Abstracts, Annual meeeting of the Botanical Society of America; 1984 August 5-9; Fort Collins, CO. American Journal of Botany. 71(5 Part 2):87. Abstract.
  20. Rodhouse, T. J. 2016. Monitoring Lemhi penstemon (<i>Penstemon lemhiensis</i>) and spotted knapweed (<i>Centaurea stoebe</i>) in Big Hole National Battlefield: 2009-2014. Natural Resource Report NPS/UCBN/NRR-2016/1143. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 10 p of front matter + 36 pp.
  21. Shelley, Steve, Botanist, U.S. Forest Service, Montana.
  22. Shelly, J. S. 1987. Status review of <i>Penstemon lemhiensis</i>, U.S. Forest Service - Region 1, Beaverhead and Bitterroot National Forests, Montana. Unpublished report. 72 pp.
  23. Shelly, J. S. 1990a. Status review update and establishment of demographic monitoring studies: <i>Penstemon lemhiensis</i>. Prepared for U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service - Region 1, Beaverhead and Bitterroot National Forests, Montana. 61 pp.
  24. Shelly, J.S. 1990b. Report on the conservation status of <i>Penstemon lemhiensis</i>, a candidate threatened species: Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program Helena, MT. 89 pp.
  25. Shelly, J. S. and B. L. Heidel. 1993. Demographic monitoring of PENSTEMON LEMHIENSIS in the Beaverhead National Forest, 1992 progress report. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 15 pp.
  26. Shelly, J. S. and B. L. Heidel. 1995. Demographic monitoring of PENSTEMON LEMHIENSIS in southwest Montana - final report. Unpublished report to the Beaverhead National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management. Montana Natural Heritage Program. 26 pp. plus appendices.
  27. Shelly, J. S. and P. L. Achuff. 1992. Demographic monitoring of PENSTEMON LEMHIENSIS, Beaverhead National Forest: 1991 progress report. Unpublished report to the Beaverhead National Forest, Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 19 pp.
  28. Vanderhorst, J. 1995a. Sensitive plant survey in the Horse Prairie Creek drainage, Beaverhead County, Montana. Unpublished report to the Bureau of Land Management, Butte District. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, Montana. 42 pp. plus appendices.
  29. Watson, T. J. Jr. 1976. An evaluation of putatively threatened or endangered species from the Montana flora. Prepared for USDA Forest Service, Missoula, MT. 31 pp.
  30. Watson, T. J., Jr. No date. Status report for <i>Penstemon lemhiensis</i>. University of Montana, Missoula. 8 pp.