Lupinus albifrons
Encyclopedia
Lupinus albifrons, Silver lupine, white-leaf bush lupine, or evergreen lupine, is a species of lupin
e (lupin). It is native
to California
and Oregon
, where it grows along the coast and in dry and open meadows, prairies and forest clearings. It is a member of several plant communities, including coastal sage scrub
, chaparral
, northern coastal scrub, foothill woodland, and yellow pine forest.
Lupinus albifrons is a perennial
shrub
, taking up about 2 ft (0.6096 m) of space and reaching 5 ft (1.5 m). It has a light blue to violet flower on 3 – stalks. The leaves are silver with a feathery texture.
and used for landscaping. It requires good drainage and needs little water once the roots are established.
toxins anagyrine and lupinine
. Because of these toxins lupines can negatively affect livestock, causing birth defects and decreasing weight especially in young, unexperienced cattle. When cows are under stress from lactating
, especially in times of low forage availability, they will consume more lupine than usual.
requires either Lupinus albifrons, Lupinus formosus
and Lupinus variicolor
, on which their larvae feed. The butterfly becomes toxic itself when it feeds on the plant, leaving it with a bitter taste to deter predators.
Due to its potential danger to livestock, this lupine is removed from rangeland
when possible, eliminating a crucial food plant from the butterfly's range.
, three of which occur only in California, the other two occur in both California and Oregon:
Lupin
Lupinus, commonly known as Lupins or lupines , is a genus in the legume family . The genus comprises about 280 species , with major centers of diversity in South and western North America , and the Andes and secondary centers in the Mediterranean region and Africa Lupinus, commonly known as Lupins...
e (lupin). It is native
Native plant
Native plant is a term to describe plants endemic or naturalized to a given area in geologic time.This includes plants that have developed, occur naturally, or existed for many years in an area...
to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, where it grows along the coast and in dry and open meadows, prairies and forest clearings. It is a member of several plant communities, including coastal sage scrub
Coastal sage scrub
Coastal sage scrub is a low scrubland plant community found in the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion of coastal California and northern Baja California. It is characterized by low-growing aromatic, and drought-deciduous shrubs adapted to the semi-arid Mediterranean climate of the...
, chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
, northern coastal scrub, foothill woodland, and yellow pine forest.
Description
Perennial plant
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. The term is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter lived annuals and biennials. The term is sometimes misused by commercial gardeners or horticulturalists to describe only herbaceous perennials...
shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
, taking up about 2 ft (0.6096 m) of space and reaching 5 ft (1.5 m). It has a light blue to violet flower on 3 – stalks. The leaves are silver with a feathery texture.
Cultivation
This plant is kept as an ornamentalOrnamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
and used for landscaping. It requires good drainage and needs little water once the roots are established.
Toxicity to livestock
The plant is deer-resistant due to the presence of the bitter-tasting alkaloidAlkaloid
Alkaloids are a group of naturally occurring chemical compounds that contain mostly basic nitrogen atoms. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Also some synthetic compounds of similar structure are attributed to alkaloids...
toxins anagyrine and lupinine
Lupinine
Lupinine is a bitter tasting alkaloid present in Lupinus spp. of Leguminosae plants. The scientific literature contains specifications for isolation and for synthesis of this compound. The bitter taste of the lupinus beans renders them unsuitable for human and animal consumption. In the past,...
. Because of these toxins lupines can negatively affect livestock, causing birth defects and decreasing weight especially in young, unexperienced cattle. When cows are under stress from lactating
Lactation
Lactation describes the secretion of milk from the mammary glands and the period of time that a mother lactates to feed her young. The process occurs in all female mammals, however it predates mammals. In humans the process of feeding milk is called breastfeeding or nursing...
, especially in times of low forage availability, they will consume more lupine than usual.
Mission blue butterfly
The federally-endangered mission blue butterflyMission blue butterfly
The Mission Blue is a blue or lycaenid butterfly subspecies native to the San Francisco Bay Area of the United States. The butterfly has been declared as endangered by the US Federal Government. It is a subspecies of Boisduval's Blue .- Description :The endangered Mission Blue has a wingspan of...
requires either Lupinus albifrons, Lupinus formosus
Lupinus formosus
Lupinus formosus, the summer lupine, is a member of the lupine genus Lupinus in the Fabaceae family. It is native to California....
and Lupinus variicolor
Lupinus variicolor
Lupinus variicolor is a shrub in the lupine genus Lupinus....
, on which their larvae feed. The butterfly becomes toxic itself when it feeds on the plant, leaving it with a bitter taste to deter predators.
Due to its potential danger to livestock, this lupine is removed from rangeland
Rangeland
Rangelands are vast natural landscapes in the form of grasslands, shrublands, woodlands, wetlands, and deserts. Types of rangelands include tallgrass and shortgrass prairies, desert grasslands and shrublands, woodlands, savannas, chaparrals, steppes, and tundras...
when possible, eliminating a crucial food plant from the butterfly's range.
Infraspecific taxa
Lupinus albifrons has five different varietiesVariety (biology)
In botanical nomenclature, variety is a taxonomic rank below that of species: as such, it gets a three-part infraspecific name....
, three of which occur only in California, the other two occur in both California and Oregon:
- Lupinus albifrons var. albifrons, silver lupine
- Lupinus albifrons var. collinus, silver lupine
- Lupinus albifrons var. douglasii, Douglas' silver lupine
- Lupinus albifrons var. eminens, silver lupine
- Lupinus albifrons var. flumineus, silver lupine.
See also
- California chaparral and woodlandsCalifornia chaparral and woodlandsThe California chaparral and woodlands is a terrestrial ecoregion of lower northern, central, and southern California and northwestern Baja California , located on the west coast of North America...
- California coastal sage and chaparral ecoregionCalifornia coastal sage and chaparral ecoregionThe California coastal sage and chaparral, a sub-ecoregion of the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion, is found in southwestern California and northwestern Baja California in Mexico.-Location:...