Southwest Colorado Wildflowers, Lupinus caudatus

In hot dry areas, some species of Lupine may be sparse, short, and have few flowers; in moist woods other Lupine become luxuriously bushy, tall, with numerous flowers. Lupines have a long flowering period and they are one of the most eye-catching flowering plants in the Four Corners area. (They also provide magnificent displays in many other areas, e.g., the Blue Bonnets of Texas and the Bush Lupine of the California coast). In the Four Corners, look for some Lupines such as L. caudatus flowering in March and April and others such as L. argenteus flowering into September. All of the Four Corners Lupines have numerous (often dozens of) blue/purple, five-part flowers making up long (often numerous) racemes.

Because they hybridize, exact species identification of Lupines is often exceedingly difficult: Intermountain Flora states, "The taxonomy of the small-flowered perennial lupines is notoriously difficult. No sexual incompatibilities interfere with free genesis of fertile hybrids which blur the already precarious distinctions...." Utah flora expert Stanley Welsh says, "The genus [Lupinus] is notoriously difficult because of lack of clear diagnostic features."

Linnaeus named this genus in 1753. "Lupinus" (Latin for "Wolf") was so named because of the erroneous belief that the species degraded land.

Lupinus caudatus. Synonym: Lupinus argenteus. (Lupine)
Fabaceae (Pea Family)

Foothills, montane, subalpine. Meadows, openings, woodlands. Summer.
West Mancos Trail, June 17, 2004.

Lupinus caudatus is very common and very attractive with its two to four foot tall flower stalks and its massing of plants. It favors
Aspen woods (those are white Aspen trunks in the background) and openings near them. Plants are often a bushy three feet wide with very long-lasting flower clusters.

"Caudatus" is Latin for "with a tail" and perhaps refers to the long flower cluster or to the tail at the end of the seed pod. (See pod picture below). Intermountain Flora considers this species a variety of Lupinus argenteus; William Weber considers it a distinct species.

Lupinus caudatus. Synonym: Lupinus argenteus. (Lupine)
Fabaceae (Pea Family)

Foothills, montane, subalpine. Meadows, openings, woodlands. Summer.
West Mancos Trail, June 17, 2004.

Lupinus caudatus. Synonym: Lupinus argenteus. (Lupine)
Fabaceae (Pea Family)

Foothills, montane, subalpine. Meadows, openings, woodlands. Summer.
West Mancos Trail, June 17, 2004.

As flowers fade, seed pods mature.