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   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 pusillus  (Lupine)
Fabaceae (Pea Family)

Semi-desert.  Sandy areas.  Spring.
South of Hogback, New Mexico, April 24, 2007.

Most of our Lupines are hardy perennials; this one is a tiny annual that occurs only on sand dunes and loose sands and gravels to about 6,500 feet altitude.  It grows three to nine inches tall, is cloaked in hairs, and has stunningly deep purple flowers. In a landscape of sand and yellow and white flowers, Lupinus pusillus really stands out.  Lupinus pusillus is found from Kansas west to California and from southern Canada south to Texas.  

Lupinus pusillus was first collected "on the banks of the Missouri" by Meriwether Lewis in 1804 or 1806 and was named and described by Frederick Pursh in 1814 in his Flora Americana. (From Intermountain Flora)
Lupinus pusillus  (Lupine)
Fabaceae (Pea Family)

Semi-desert.  Sandy areas.  Spring.
Behind the Rocks, Moab, Utah, April 15, 2008.

A very young plant casts shadows of fresh elongated leaves and rounded cotyledons.  Notice the fine hairs on all upper leaves.
Lupinus pusillus  (Lupine)
Fabaceae (Pea Family)

Semi-desert.  Sandy areas.  Spring.
South of Hogback, New Mexico, April 24, 2007.
Lupinus pusillus  (Lupine)
Fabaceae (Pea Family)

Semi-desert.  Sandy areas.  Spring.
Hidden Valley Trail, Behind the Rocks Wilderness Study Area, Utah, May 10, 2007.