penstemon

[ pen-stee-muh n, pen-stuh-muh n ]

/ pɛnˈsti mən, ˈpɛn stə mən /

noun

any of numerous chiefly North American plants belonging to the genus Penstemon, of the figwort family, some species of which are cultivated for their showy, variously colored flowers.

Nearby words

pensionary, pensioneer trustee, pensioner, pensive, pensively, penstemon, penstock, pensée, pensées, pent, pent-up

Also pentstemon.

Origin of penstemon

1750–60; variant of pentstemon (> New Latin Penstemon genus name)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for penstemon

Stems and leaves of two of the plants, Comandra umbellata and Penstemon linarioides, were readily eaten by captive animals.
Comparative Ecology of Pinyon Mice and Deer Mice in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado|Charles L. Douglas
Water content of both Penstemon and Comandra was greatly reduced in the dry period that occurred in early July.
Comparative Ecology of Pinyon Mice and Deer Mice in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado|Charles L. Douglas
The three most abundant plants on the ground are Artemisia ludoviciana, Chrysothamnus depressus and Penstemon linarioides.
Comparative Ecology of Pinyon Mice and Deer Mice in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado|Charles L. Douglas

British Dictionary definitions for penstemon

penstemon

/ (pɛnˈstiːmən) /

noun

a variant (esp US) of pentstemon

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012