Lupinus leucophyllus Douglas ex Lindl.
velvet lupine
Fabaceae (Pea family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Virginia Skilton     (Photo ID #34080)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

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

SUBTAXA PRESENT IN BC

Lupinus leucophyllus var. leucophyllus

Species Information

General:
Perennial from a branched root-crown; stems several, erect, 30-90 cm tall, simple to freely branched, densely velvety-hairy and with additional, longer, spreading to appressed hairs.
Leaves:
Mainly alternate along the stem, palmately compound, with stalks 1-3 times as long as the blades; leaflets 7 to 10, elliptic-oblanceolate, pointed at the tip, 2-6 cm long, velvety on both surfaces.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a short-stalked, long-tapering, terminal raceme, 10-40 cm long, of densely whorled pea-like flowers, the flower-stalks 1.5-3 mm long; corollas pale lavender to whitish, 8-12 mm long, the banner densely hairy on the back, the wings glabrous, the keel fringed with hairs along the upper edges; calyces shaggy, 2-lipped, the upper lip 2-toothed, the lower lip entire.
Fruits:
Pods, 1.5-2.5 cm long, shaggy with rusty hairs; seeds 4 to 6.

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.

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Lupinus leucophyllus

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)
1555 1550 1563
Slope Gradient (%)
2 0 5

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

235 236 236
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
4 3 5
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
C
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
3
Modal BEC Zone Class
ESSF

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

ESSF(3)

Habitat and Range

Dry meadows, glades and open forest in the steppe and lower montane zones; locally frequent in SC BC; S to ID, MT, WY, NV and NE CA.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia