Penstemon digitalis which repeat with two flowers multiple times. The pedicels are almost one fourth of an inch long and produce 1.25 inch long two-lipped tubular flowers over dark green foliage. The plant has elliptic basal leaves and lance-shaped to oblong stem leaves. It is called beardtongue because the plant has a fifth stamen which resembles a hairy beard due to having small hairs. "Penstemon" is a combination of the Greek words, "penta", "five" and "stemon", referring to the stamen, every flower containing five stamens. Four of the stamens are fertile while the fifth one is sterile. The Latin word "digitalis" means
Plant physiology plants produce a vast array of chemical compounds with unique properties which they use to cope with their environment. Pigments are used by plants to absorb or detect light, and are extracted by humans for use in dyes. Other plant products may be used for the manufacture of commercially important rubber or biofuel. Perhaps the most celebrated compounds from plants are those with pharmacological activity, such as salicylic acid from which aspirin is made, morphine, and digoxin. Drug companies spend billions of dollars each year researching plant compounds for potential medicinal benefits. Plants require some nutrients, such as carbon and