Lupinus sericeus

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Lupinus sericeus

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Lupinus
Species:
L. sericeus
Binomial name
Lupinus sericeus

Lupinus sericeus is a species of flowering plant in the legume family known by the common name silky lupine or Pursh's silky lupine. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to Arizona and east to Alberta and Colorado.[1]

This perennial herb produces erect stems from a woody caudex and deep root system. The stems reach up to 50 centimetres (20 inches) tall and may branch or not. They are coated in silvery or reddish hairs. The leaves have up to 9 lance-shaped leaflets each up to 6 centimetres (2.4 inches) in length. They are coated in silk-like hairs. The inflorescence is a raceme of many flowers, usually in shades of purple or blue, but sometimes white or yellowish. The back side of the banner petal is hairy. The fruit is a hairy legume pod up to 3 centimetres (1.2 in) long containing up to 7 seeds.[1][2]

This plant grows in many types of habitat, including forests, woodlands,

prairie junegrass (Koeleria cristata), and sedges (Carex spp.).[1]

Like many other

Columbia ground squirrels feed on the leaves and flowers. Many other small mammals and birds also eat parts of it.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Matthews, Robin F. (1993) Lupinus sericeus. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Retrieved 11-29-2011.
  2. ^ Lupinus sericeus. Washington Burke Museum. Retrieved 11-29-2011.

External links