Snapdragon Bush
Bush Penstemon
Keckiella antirrhinoides
Chalcedona Checkerspot
Euphydrias chalcedona
Painted from live specimens found at Sugarloaf Mtn., e. Maricopa County, Arizona on 29 March 1992.
FLOWERS: Bright yellow snapdragon flowers open Mar. to Apr.
SHRUB:1 to 2 m.
RANGE: Upper elevations in transition to chaparral from eastern
Pinal to southern Yavapai Counties.
LEAVES: Small, simple, spatulate and opposite on the stem. The leaf
petiole has a curious swelling where it joins the stem.
FRUIT: Dry capsules, mature in May, then split open to reveal many small
seeds.
UNARMED.
A search of the plant in early spring will often reveal the 3 cm long black caterpillar of the Chalcedona Checkerspot, Euphydryas chalcedona. Through its range in other parts of the west this butterfly uses various penstemon species thus confirming this shrub's taxonomic afinity to the usually herbaceous species.