Orbexilum lupinellus (Michx.) Isely

Lupine Scurf Pea; Piedmont Leather Root

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Lupine Scurf Pea is a native herbaceous perennial in the Bean family (Fabaceae). It is known from two counties in Alabama (Autauga and Pike). Lupine Scurf Pea is found in sandhills, in dry open woods, and on roadsides. It is a perennial from a slender, elongate rhizome. The rhizome is located deep in the sandy soils. Stems are 1-4 feet in length, decumbent or sprawling, green in color, and glabrous or short pubescent. Each root crown produces 1-5 stems. The leaves are alternate, petiolate, and 5-7 palmately foliate. The leaflets are linear to filiform, short pubescent, and glandular punctate. Flowers are produced in terminal or axillary racemes. The individual flowers are papillionate, and blue to violet in color. The fruit is a 1-2 seeded wrinkled legume. Lupine Scurf Pea is listed as a S1 species in Alabama (typically 5 or fewer occurrences, very few remaining individuals, acres, or miles of stream, or some factor of its biology making it especially vulnerable in the state), and globally as a G3G4 species (G3 - Imperiled globally because of rarity (6 - 20 occurrences, or few remaining acres, or miles of stream) or very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors. G4 - Imperiled globally because of rarity (6 - 20 occurrences, or few remaining acres, or miles of stream) or very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors).--A. Diamond

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Native S1 (State Rank) G3G4 (Global Rank)

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