Lupinus pusillus
Plant species in the pea family
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lupinus pusillus, the rusty lupine[2] or dwarf lupine, is an annual plant in the legume family (fabaceae) found in the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region of the southwestern United States(California),[3]: 159 and north to Montana.
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| Lupinus pusillus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Lupinus pusillus, Montana | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Lupinus |
| Species: | L. pusillus |
| Binomial name | |
| Lupinus pusillus Pursh | |
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Description
Growth pattern
It is an annual plant growing up to 9 inches (23 cm) tall. Pusillus is for the small size of the plant.[3]: 159
Leaves and stems
Leaves are compound palmate with 3-9 1⁄2 to 1+1⁄2 inches (1.3 to 3.8 cm) long inversely lance- shaped leaflets.[3]: 159
Plant stems and leaf stems (petioles) have long spreading hairs.[3]: 159
Inflorescence and fruit
It blooms from April to June.[3]: 159
Flowers are in stalks of 4-38 and bluish to purple or bicolored, with a yellow spot on the upper petal.[3]: 159
Seedpods are nearly oval and have constrictions separating the seeds.[3]: 159
Habitat and range
It can be found in desert shrubland and pinyon juniper woodland communities, from as far north as Washington, to California, and throughout the southwest.[3]: 159
When growing in reddish sand, the blue flowers make a striking contrast with the sun at a low angle.[3]: 159
Ecological and human interactions
It is pollinated by bees.[3]: 159
