Lupin, often spelled lupine in North America, is the common name for members of the genusLupinus in the family Fabaceae. The genus comprises between 150-200 species, and has a wide distribution in the Mediterranean region and the Americas.
The species are mostly herbaceousperennial plants 0.3-1.5 m tall, but some are annual plants and a few are shrubs up to 3 m tall. They have a characteristic and easily recognised leaf shape, with soft green to grey-green or silvery leaves divided into 5–17 finger-like leaflets that diverge from a central point; in many species, the leaves are hairy with silvery hairs, often densely so. The flowers are produced in dense or open whorls on an erect spike, each flower 1-2 cm long, with a typical peaflower shape with an upper 'standard', two lateral 'wings' and two lower petals fused as a 'keel'. The fruit is a pod containing several seeds.
Like most members of this family, lupins can fix nitrogen from the atmosphere into ammonia, fertilizing the soil for other plants (see legume). Some species have a long central tap root.
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Cover Crop Database: Lupins - Information about the biology of Lupinus (lupine) and its use as a cover crop in California agriculture. Includes images of several species.
Lupinus albifrons - Image and description of Silver Bush Lupine from California.
Meta Description: [ plant lists, with plant description and picture, alphabetized by scientific name. ]
Lupinus bicolor - Images of Miniature Lupine from California.