Penstemon janishiae

Janish's beardtongue, Janish's Beardtongue

Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2

Janish's beardtongue is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada Mountains and Modoc Plateau in sagebrush scrub, juniper savanna, and yellow-pine forest at elevations of 1,350 to 2,350 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces pink to dull purple flowers with blue-tinged lobes, approximately 18 to 28 millimeters long with a wide, distinctive throat. Growing with short stems 8 to 25 centimeters tall, the plant has backward-pointing hairs and an upright, compact form. Its leaves range from 20 to 60 millimeters long, with well-developed basal leaves and lance-shaped cauline leaves that are entire or slightly toothed. The staminode is notably exserted, coiled at the tip, and densely covered in orange-yellow hairs, adding to the plant's distinctive appearance.

Habitat: Generally igneous-clay soils in sagebrush scrub, juniper/shrub savanna, yellow-pine forest

Bloom period: May-Jul

Elevation: 1350-2350 m

Bioregions: n SNH, MP

California counties: Modoc, Plumas, Lassen

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.