Lupinus arbustus
Synonyms: Lupinus amabilis, Lupinus arbustus ssp. arbustus, Lupinus arbustus ssp. arbustus var. arbustus, Lupinus arbustus ssp. arbustus var. montanus, Lupinus arbustus ssp. calcaratus, Lupinus arbustus ssp. neolaxiflorus, Lupinus arbustus ssp. pseudoparviflorus, Lupinus arbustus ssp. silvicola, Lupinus arbustus var. montanus, Lupinus argenteus ssp. argenteus var. laxiflorus, Lupinus argenteus var. laxiflorus, Lupinus caudatus, Lupinus caudatus var. submanes, Lupinus caudatus var. subtenellus, Lupinus laxiflorus, Lupinus laxiflorus ssp. laxiflorus, Lupinus laxiflorus var. calcaratus, Lupinus laxiflorus var. cognatus, Lupinus laxiflorus var. elmerianus, Lupinus laxiflorus var. laxiflorus, Lupinus laxiflorus var. lyleianus, Lupinus laxiflorus var. pseudoparviflorus, Lupinus laxiflorus var. silvicola, Lupinus lyleianus, Lupinus mucronulatus var. umatillensis, Lupinus sulphureus var. applegatianus
The photo at right shows a close-up of the keel of spurred lupine as seen along Hat Pt. Road in the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.................June 26, 2007.
Spurred lupine is an attractive perennial wildflower suitable for mountain or arid climates. Its numerous stems are spreading to erect and are simple to sparingly branched, ranging from 20-80 cm high. The herbage consists of fine, appressed hairs which all point in one direction and which give the stems and leaves greenish-gray to silver-gray appearance. The palmately compound leaves are primarily found on the stems. The petioles of the lower leaves range from 2-4 times longer than the leaf blades, while the upper petioles are roughly half as long as the blades. The blades consist of 7-11 narrowly oblong-oblanceolate to oblong leaflets with the tips ranging from pointed to occasionally obtuse or rounded. The leaflets range from 3-5 cm long. The herbage of the leaves is various ranging from pubescent on both surfaces to glabrous above and silvery-haired below.
The racemes are 7-20 cm long and range from loosely flowered to sometimes fairly crowded. The flowers range from 9-14 mm long with flower stems from 3-7 mm long. The calyx has a noticeable sac or spur just above its attachment point to the flower stem. The spur ranges from 1-3 mm long. The upper lobe of the calyx is cleft at its tip and is usually less than 1/3 the length of the corolla wings. The banner is fairly pubescent on its back to above the center. The wings are minutely hairy on the upper side, just below the banner. The margin of the keel is fringed by minute hairs most of its length. The flowers vary from blue, pink, violet, rose and purple to cream or white. The pods are fairly covered with silky hairs and range from 2-3.5 cm long.
The taxonomy of the spurred lupines has changed a number of times over the course of the past 10 years. This list attempts to differentiate between the spurred lupines, whether they have been lumped into a single unit as some have suggested or whether they are separate entities.
Spurred lupine is almost indistinguishable from Kellogg's spurred lupine (Lupinus caudatus). Both are frequently found together and great care must be taken to not misidentify them. Spurred lupine generally differs from the latter in having a shorter upper calyx lobe (less than 1/2 the length of the wings of the corolla) and by having minute hairs (You need a hand lens to see them!) on the upper edge of the wings, just below the banner.
Silvery Lupine: Lupinus argenteus var. heteranthus - Back of banner sparsely hairy or glabrous. When present, hairs may be largely hidden by the upper calyx lip. Flowers 5-10 mm long with the banner index from 4-9. Wing petals not pubescent near the tip, although sometimes hairs may be present along the midvein. Basal leaves generally absent when in bloom, but if present, the pedicels are less than three times as long as the leaflets. Found from Lake County in south-central Oregon and the Steens Mt. of southeastern Oregon and south to Mono county in California and east to western Nevada.
Kellogg's Spurred Lupine: Lupinus caudatus (now L. argenteus var. heteranthus ?) - Back of banner typically pubescent on lower 2/3 of banner. Flowers 10-12 mm long, the banner index measuring from 5-10. Wing petals not pubescent near tip. Upper calyx lip nearly as long as the lower lip, measuring 1/3-3/4 as long as the wings. Found east of the Cascade Mts. from central Oregon south to California and east through Idaho to Montana and Colorado.
Spurred Lupine: Lupinus laxiflorus (now L. arbustus) - Back of banner typically pubescent on lower 2/3 of banner. Flowers 9-14 mm long, the banner index from 4-9. Wing petals pubescent near tip. Upper calyx lip much shorter than the lower lip, only 1/5-1/4 as long as the wings. Found in and to the east of the Cascade Mts. from central Washington south through Oregon to California and east to Idaho, Utah and Nevada.
Sulphur Lupine: Lupinus sulphureus - Back of banner glabrous or sparsely pubescent, especially under the upper calyx lip. Typically not spurred, but if spurred, the spur is short. Flowers 9-12 mm long, the banner index from 4-10. Basal leaves generally present while in bloom with pedicels 3-5 times longer than the leaflets. Found east and west of the Cascade Mts. from south-central British Columbia south through central Washington and Oregon to California and east to Idaho.
East of the Cascade Mts, spurred lupine may commonly be found in sagebrush or ponderosa pine habitats. In the Cascades, it may be found in coniferous forests including Douglas fir.
Spurred lupine is primarily found east of the Cascade Mts. from Washington east to Idaho and Montana, and south to California, Utah and Nevada. Variety laxiflorus is found in the western portion of the range of the species.
The photo above shows spurred lupine as seen along the Cold Springs Road at Cold Springs Cow Camp in the northern Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.................June 26, 2008.
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