Lupinus lepidus var. lepidus Douglas ex Lindl.
prairie lupine (Pacific lupine)
Fabaceae (Pea family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Hans Roemer     (Photo ID #26139)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

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

Species Information

General:
Perennial herb from a woody stem-base; stems several, slender, tufted, decumbent to erect, 20-45 cm tall, silky and with some longer ascending hairs.
Leaves:
Mostly basal with stalks 10-16 cm long, a few alternate along the stem, palmately compound; leaflets 6 to 10, oblanceolate, pointed at the tip, 1-5 cm long, 2-7 mm wide, mostly folded, silky on both surfaces.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a terminal raceme, about as long as its stalk, of whorled pea-like flowers; corollas blue, white or lavender, 10-13 mm long, the banner egg-shaped to nearly circular, glabrous, the wings glabrous, rather narrow, the keel fringed with hairs along the upper edges; calyces 2-lipped, the upper lip 2-toothed, cleft for at least 1/2 its length, both lips 5-7 mm long.
Fruits:
Pods, 1-3 cm long, stiff-hairy; seeds 2 to 4.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

USDA Species Characteristics

Flower Colour:
Blue
Blooming Period:
Early Summer
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Brown
Present from Spring to Fall
Source:  The USDA

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Lupinus lepidus

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
2186 1875 2470
Slope Gradient (%)
22 0 55

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

245 23 360
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
1 1 4
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
B
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
8
Modal BEC Zone Class
IMA

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

ESSF(3), IMA(3)

Habitat and Range

Dry gravelly openings and rock outcrops in the lowland zone; rare on SE Vancouver Island; S to NW OR.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Lupinus aridus var. cusickii (S. Watson) C.P. Sm.
Lupinus lepidus subsp. aridus (Douglas) Detling
Lupinus lepidus subsp. cusickii (S. Watson) Detling
Lupinus lepidus var. aridus (Douglas) Jeps.
Lupinus lepidus var. cusickii (S. Watson) C.L. Hitchc.
Lupinus lepidus var. lepidus
Lupinus longivallis C.P. Sm.