beardtongue
/ˈbirdˌtəNG
/noun
A North American plant of the figwort family with showy, five-lobed flowers. Each blossom has a tuft of hair on one of its stamens.
- Genus Penstemon, family Scrophulariaceae: several species, including hairy beardtongue (P. hirsutus) and the widespread foxglove beardtongue (P. digitalis).
- Penstemons are sometimes commonly called beardtongues because the sterile stamen has a tuft of small hairs.
- The Penstemon Website is a great place to go if you're interested in beardtongues either for enjoyment or gardening.