Jepson Flora Project: Jepson Interchange    

Jepson Interchange (more information)
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California




Annual to tree
Leaves generally compound, alternate, stipuled; leaflets generally entire
Family description and key to genera by Duane Isely.



Rhonda Riggins (annual) and Teresa Sholars (perennial herbs to shrubs)

Annual to shrubs; cotyledons generally petioled, withering early
Stem generally erect
Leaves palmately compound in CA, generally cauline; stipules fused to petiole; leaflets 3–17, generally oblanceolate, entire
Inflorescence: raceme; flowers spiraled or whorled; bracts generally deciduous
Flower: calyx 2-lipped, lobes entire or toothed, generally appendaged between lobes; banner centrally grooved, sides reflexed, wing tips slightly fused, keel generally pointed; stamens 10, filaments fused, 5 long with short anthers, 5 short with long anthers; style brushy
Fruit dehiscent, generally oblong
Seeds 2–12, generally smooth
Species in genus: ± 200 species: especially w North America, w South America to e US, also tropical South America, Medit
Some cultivated for fodder, green manure, edible seed, ornamental; some naturalized from CA in e North America, South America, Australia, s Africa; some (e.g. L. arboreus, L. latifolius, L. leucophyllus ) have alkaloids (especially in seeds, fruits, young herbage) TOXIC to livestock (especially sheep)
Reference: [Barneby 1989 Intermountain Flora 3(B):237–267]
Infl length does not include peduncle
Horticultural information: Many lupine taxa need seed pre-treatment (scarification, stratification, inoculation) for successful germination.


L. albifrons Benth.

Subshrub or shrub < 50 dm, hairy, generally silver (greenish)
Stem decumbent to erect
Leaves cauline, clustered near base or not, both surfaces hairy; stipules 6–20 mm; petiole 1–8 cm; leaflets 6–10, 10–45 mm
Inflorescence 4–30 cm; peduncle 5–13 cm; flowers generally not to loosely whorled; pedicel 3–10 mm; bracts 4–15 mm, deciduous
Flower 9–16 mm; calyx upper lip 6–8 mm, deeply divided, lower lip 6–10 mm, entire to 3-toothed; petals violet to lavender, banner back generally hairy, patch generally yellow (to white) turning purple, keel generally unlobed near base, upper margins generally ciliate middle to tip, lower margins glabrous
Fruit 3–5 cm, hairy
Seeds 4–9, 4–6 mm, mottled tan
Ecology: Open areas, sand or rocks
Elevation: < 2000 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California, Sierra Nevada Foothills, Central Western California, South Coast, n Channel Islands
Distribution outside California: s Oregon
Variable, ± indistinct from L. excubitus.

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bioregional map for LUPINUS%20albifrons being generated

Retrieve Jepson Interchange Index to Plant Names entry for Lupinus albifrons
Retrieve dichotomous key for Lupinus
Overlay Consortium of California Herbaria specimen data by county on this map
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