Beardtongues – Penstemons – are fascinating puzzles. Most have opposite oval to elongate leaves up the stem. The lower 3 petals form a landing pad and all 5 petals are fused together provide a tunnel specifically sized to pollinators. Their name refers to the false fifth stamen- staminode–which lies like a tongue at the base of the flower and is often hairy or “bearded”. There are 4 true stamens which curve over the bodies of pollinators—bumble bees in this instance.