Talus slop penstemon, often called beardtongue, is a member of the Scrophulariaceae (Figwort) family, is a smooth, shiny plant up to 4 feet tall with opposite leaves that are widest near their clasping or heart-shaped bases and taper to pointed tips. Flowers are on spreading, branched stalks usually arising in pairs or clusters near the tops of the stem branches, with a pair of small leaves below each cluster. The flowers are white and tubular, often having a purplish tinge and are usually marked with purple lines inside the tube. The seed heads produce a sharp odor.Beardtongue usually blooms late spring to midsummer and is frequently found in moist to mesic sites in prairies, wet thickets, and along streams.