About Lupinus luteolus Kellogg
Common Names
Lupinus luteolus is a species of lupine that has the common names pale yellow lupine and butter lupine.
Distribution
It is native to the coastal mountain ranges of Oregon and California, extending south as far as the Transverse Ranges, where it grows in open habitats including clearings and occasionally disturbed areas.
Growth Form and Size
This plant is an annual herb with a rigid stem that reaches a maximum height between 30 centimeters and 1.5 meters, and is known to grow taller than this upper limit on occasion.
Leaf Structure
Each of its palmate leaves is composed of 7 to 9 hairy leaflets that measure 1 to 3 centimeters long.
Inflorescence Characteristics
Its inflorescence is a raceme made up of crowded whorls of flowers, with each flower measuring just over one centimeter long.
Flower Coloration
The flowers are often pale to bright yellow, but may also be blue or pinkish.
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
The fruit produced by this species is a hairy, rounded or oval legume pod that generally holds 2 seeds.
