Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.158659
Element CodePDSCR1L4J0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderPlantaginales
FamilyPlantaginaceae
GenusPenstemon
SynonymsPenstemon brevisepalusPennell
Other Common Namespale beardtongue (EN) Penstémon pâle (FR)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, 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 Date2024-06-17
Change Date1988-08-04
Edition Date2024-06-17
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent200,000 to >2,500,000 square km (about 80,000 to >1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsPenstemon pallidus is concentrated in the Central Lowlands and Ozark Plateau of the central United States in Arkansas, Missouri, and Tennessee, and its range extends north to Ontario, Canada and Maine and east to Georgia and Alabama. Threats include development, rights-of-way maintenance activities, logging, recreational activities, succession, and invasive species. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, as well as no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsPenstemon pallidus is "concentrated in the Central Lowlands and Ozark Plateau of the central United States," and possibly "spread eastward as a result of human activities, as in Ontario," Canada, the northernmost extent of its range (FNA 2019). Overall distribution includes Maine west to Minnesota and south to Georgia and Alabama in the United States (FNA 2019). Range extent was estimated to be almost 1.9 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are over 300 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, this species is potentially threatened by development, rights-of-way maintenance activities, logging, recreational activities, succession, invasive species, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats, as well as no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.