Lupinus lepidus

Lupinus lepidus, the Pacific lupine,[2] prairie lupine or dwarf lupine is a perennial herbaceous plant in the pea family (Fabaceae) endemic to western North America.[3][4][5][6] Many varieties have been described, several of which are considered separate species by some authorities.[6]

Lupinus lepidus
White flower surrounded by long green leaves
Lupinus lepidus var. lobbii (prairie lupine)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Lupinus
Species:
L. lepidus
Binomial name
Lupinus lepidus
Lindl., 1828[1]

Habitat and range

In western North America, Lupinus lepidus may be found in open areas from low prairie, open montane forest, to the alpine. Although rare in British Columbia, its range extends south from Alaska to southern California and eastward to the Rocky Mountains.[4][3][6] In California, it is mainly a species of meadows and areas that are moist during the spring growing season in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, from 4,900 to 9,800 feet (1,500 to 3,000 m).[7]

Description
Lupinus lepidus at water's edge, Pioneer Basin, Sierra Nevada

Lupinus lepidus is a small hairy perennial that reaches 4 to 24 inches (10 to 61 cm).[7] Palmately compound leaves extend up the stem, but most are basal.[7] The inflorescence is a dense spike-like raceme, with pink, purple, or blue flowers that often have a yellowish spot.[7] The plant blooms from mid-April through August, depending on elevation and habitat.[3] The fruit is a pod containing multiple seeds.[7]

References
  1. "Lupinus lepidus Lindl". GBIF.org. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  2. USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Lupinus lepidus". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  3. Sullivan, Steven. K. (2015). "Lupinus lepidus". Wildflower Search. Retrieved 2015-01-17.
  4. Klinkenberg, Brian, ed. (2014). "Lupinus lepidus". E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia [eflora.bc.ca]. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Retrieved 2015-01-17.
  5. Giblin, David, ed. (2015). "Lupinus lepidus". WTU Herbarium Image Collection. Burke Museum, University of Washington. Retrieved 2015-01-17.
  6. "Lupinus lepidus". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture; Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2015. Retrieved 2015-01-17.
  7. Sierra Nevada Wildflowers, Karen Wiese, 2nd Ed., 2013, p. 35
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