Lupinus polycarpus E.L. Greene

Small Flower Lupine

Herb

Annual

Vascular

Small Flower Lupine is an introduced annual in the Bean family (Fabaceae). It is native to the west coast of North America from California north to British Columbia. It is has been found naturalized in one county in Alabama’s Black Belt. Small Flower Lupine is an annual with a tap root. Stems are erect, densely pubescent, and up to 1 foot in height. The stems are green in color with white hairs. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, and palmately 5-9 foliate. The leaflets are elliptic in outline, entire, and pubescent on both surfaces. Flowers are produced in a terminal raceme. Individual flowers are papilionaceous, blue in color, with white markings on the banner petal. The fruit is a legume with 3-10 seed. Small Flower Lupine is included in some wildflower seed mixes. It’s introduction to Alabama was likely through some past planting. It occurs along a pasture in a rural part of the county and has persisted for at least 6 years.--A. Diamond

This species was first reported for Alabama in 2016 by Alvin Diamond based on his 2012 collection from Montgomery County.

Not Native

Diamond, A. R. 2016. New vascular plant county records from Alabama. Phytoneuron 2016-70: 1-6.