About Lupinus lepidus Douglas ex Lindl.
Lupinus lepidus Douglas ex Lindl. is a small, hairy perennial herb, growing between 10 and 61 centimetres (4 to 24 inches) tall. Its leaves are palmately compound and arranged along the stem, with most leaves growing at the base of the plant. Its inflorescence is a dense, spike-shaped raceme, holding pink, purple, or blue flowers that very often have a distinct yellowish spot. The plant blooms from mid-April through August, with flowering timing changing based on elevation and local habitat. After flowering, it produces a pod fruit that holds multiple seeds. This species is endemic to western North America. It grows in open habitats, ranging from low prairies and open montane forests up to alpine zones. Its range extends south from Alaska to southern California and eastward into the Rocky Mountains, and it is rare within British Columbia. In California, it occurs primarily in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, growing in meadows and areas that stay moist through the spring growing season, at elevations between 1,500 and 3,000 metres (4,900 to 9,800 ft).
