Lupinus bicolor Lindl.   =Lupinus bicolor ssp. umbellatus   Fabaceae (Pea Family)   Native   Miniature Lupine                                    Calif. Miniature Lupine

                                    March Photo

Plant Characteristics: Annual, the stems, 1-several from the base, erect to decumbent, 1-4 dm. tall, villous throughout, petioles 2-7 cm. long; lfts. 5-7 oblanceolate to cuneate, 1-3 cm. long; peduncles 3-7 cm. long; racemes 1-7 cm. long, with 3-9 whorls; pedicels 1.5-3 mm. long; bracts subulate, deciduous, 4-6 mm. long; lower calyx-lip deeply cleft, the teeth 1-5 mm. long; banner 6-9 mm. long, rounded at apex, obovate, blue with cent. light spot; keel with a slender acumen, ciliate on upper edge near tip; pod strigose, 1.5-2 cm. long.

Habitat:  V. Grassland, Joshua Tree Wd., Yellow Pine F.; Mt. valleys along w. edge of deserts, San Diego Co. n.  March-June.

Name:  Latin, from lupus, a wolf, because of an old idea that lupines rob the soil.  Bicolor refers to the blue and white of the flowers.  (Dale 113).  N.L., umbellatus, with umbels.  (Jaeger 303).  Umbellatus with flower clusters like an umbel.  In this subspecies the flowers are borne more like an umbel than like a raceme or spike that is typical of lupines.  (John Johnson).

General:  Occasional in the study area.  The photographed specimen was found at the north end of Backbay Dr., on a small bench, between the road and the bluff. (my comments).      The oldest known viable seeds, discovered in l967 frozen in a lemming burrow, are from an arctic Lupine, estimated at 10,000 years old; when planted they germinated in 48 hours.  The Miniature Lupine and the California Poppy, Eschscholzia californica, are common companions, the blue cast given to fields by the Lupine complementing perfectly the fiery orange of the Poppy.  (Spellenberg 502-503).     Tea from the leaves or seeds of Lupinus spp. has been used for bladder trouble and failure to urinate.  (Heizer & Elsasser 131).      After fertilization has taken place, the white in these blossoms turns a deep red, and this admixture gives the general lilac tone to the mass.  (Parsons 308).     The Miwok Indians of central California ate Lupinus bicolor as greens.  (Campbell 140).       Subspecies umbellatus not recognized in the new Jepson Manual.  (Hickman, Ed. 1339).

Text Ref:  Dale 112; Hickman, Ed. 628; Munz, Calif. Flora 815; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 454; Roberts 24.

Photo Ref:  Mar 2 85 # 21; Mar 3 85 # 3.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by F. Roberts.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 76.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 1/17/03

                                            March Photo