The ‘superfluous’ Penstemon

Upon inspection, Jeffersonia diphylla capsules will open soon. I  just collected Asarum canadense seeds (wild ginger) and Sanguinaria canadensis capsules look ready to burst. So, we will wait a couple of days to start a new wave of fresh seeds sale. Stay tuned…and check the Seed List for what’s coming.

Meanwhile, a beautiful North American Penstemon is flowering for the first time: Penstemon grandiflorus, the Shell-leaf Penstemon.
I was expecting lilac flowers but instead they are deep purple. Since I got the seeds from a friend (cultivated source), I thought a bit more research might be necessary even if all characters match for it.

It was easy, it seems there is a seed strain offered as ‘War Axe’, with the resulting seedlings in various colors from lilac to pink and deep purple. I have 2 plants and both are the same. So, this was clarified and the changes were made in the Shop.
Reading here and there, I become aware of another issue: some databases (WFO, POWO) are listing Penstemon grandiflorus Nutt. as a synonym name for Penstemon bradbury Pursh.

This on the account that Penstemon grandiflorus name is considered superfluous. The meaning of a superfluous plant name is that: if a new name is published for a species, and it included the type of an existing, valid name, then the new name is considered superfluous and illegitimate. This is because the author of the new name should have used the existing, valid name.

On the other hand, Flora of North America specialist for the genus accepted the name Penstemon grandiflorus while considering Penstemon bradbury an illeg., superfluous name: “The validity of the name Penstemon grandiflorus has been debated owing to the meager diagnosis by Nuttall. The name is accepted here, making P. bradburyi Pursh, an illegitimate, superfluous replacement for P. grandiflorus.”

Squabble between the specialists? 😉 Not the first time happening…
I usually prefer to follow the Flora of North America taxonomic treatments, regardless of the country/continent, as opposed to various databases compilations, so at least for now I keep P. grandiflorus.

The name may be ‘superfluous’ by some, but the beauty of the “Largest and showiest of the North American prairie penstemons” is not contested by anyone.