Lupinus densiflorus Benth.
Dense-flowered Lupine (whitewhorl lupine)
Fabaceae (Pea family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Adolf Ceska     (Photo ID #5879)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Lupinus densiflorus
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

SUBTAXA PRESENT IN BC

Lupinus densiflorus var. densiflorus

Species Information

General:
Annual herb from a taproot; stems erect to spreading, 20-30 cm tall, hollow-cylindric at the base, branched, abundantly soft-spreading-hairy.
Leaves:
Basal and alternate along the stem but tending to be clustered toward the top of the stem, palmately compound, the leaf stalks very hairy and several times as long as the leaf blades; leaflets 8 to 10, elliptic-oblanceolate, sharp-pointed to blunt at the tip, 1.5-3 cm long, glabrous above, soft-spreading-hairy below.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a stalked, terminal raceme of whorled pea-like flowers; corollas white to yellowish white, often tinged with pink, 1-1.5 cm long, the banner oblong, short-hairy on central groove, the wings and the keel fringed on the edges towards the base; calyces 2-lipped, the upper lip short, 2-lobed, the lower lip much longer, 3-toothed; all flower parts persistent as dried membranes around the pod.
Fruits:
Pods, 1.5-2 cm long, egg-diamond-shaped, stiff-hairy; seeds 2, brownish, 4-6 mm long.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat and Range

Dry to moist, grassy openings in the lowland zone; rare on SE Vancouver Island, known only from the Victoria area; S to NW WA.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia