Lupinus latifolius
Lupinus perennis
broad-leaf lupine
sundial lupine
erect or spreading, branched or unbranched.
erect, unbranched or sparsely branched distally, usually hollow.
cauline, basal when present withered by anthesis;
stipules 5–10 mm;
petiole 4–20 cm;
leaflets 5–11, blades 40–100 × 6–24 mm, abaxial surface ± hairy, adaxial surface glabrous or hairy.
cauline;
stipules 4–12 mm, longer proximally becoming smaller distally;
petiole (2–)5–10(–15) cm;
leaflets 7–11, blades (15–)20–45(–50) × 4–15 mm, abaxial surface appressed to spreading hairy, strigose, adaxial surface green, glabrous.
16–60 cm;
flowers whorled or spirally arranged.
8–20(–30) cm;
flowers spirally arranged or whorled.
8–20 cm;
bracts deciduous, 8–12 mm.
(2.5–)4–9 cm;
bracts tardily deciduous, 3–6 mm.
2–12 mm.
(3–)5–7(–10) mm.
8–18 mm;
calyx abaxial lobe entire or notched, 4–8 mm, adaxial lobe entire or 2-toothed, 5–10 mm;
corolla blue or purple to white, banner patch usually white to yellowish turning purple, banner glabrous abaxially, lower keel margins usually ciliate, adaxial margin ciliate from claw to middle.
(8–)12–16 mm;
calyx abaxial lobe slightly 3-dentate, 5–6 mm, adaxial lobe notched, 4–5 mm;
corolla usually blue, sometimes pink or white, banner glabrous abaxially, upper keel margins ciliate.
2–4.5 cm, ± densely hairy.
3–5 cm, villous.
deciduous, petiolate.
deciduous, petiolate.
6–10, mottled dark brown, 3–4 mm.
5 or 6.
= 48, 96.
Lupinus latifolius
Lupinus perennis
Varieties 5 (5 in the flora).
Various authors have differed in their circumscriptions of Lupinus latifolius. For example, P. K. Vaughn and D. B. Dunn (1977) recognized three varieties, D. Isely (1998) recognized six varieties, and C. L. Hitchcock et al. (1955–1969, vol. 3) recognized three varieties. The most conservative approach has been taken here by recognizing taxa that have the clearest characteristics, but that approach might not reflect phylogeny. Research is needed to clarify the varieties and particularly the relationships among L. latifolius and L. arcticus, L. perennis, and L. polyphyllus.
Lupinus latifolius is known to cause birth defects in livestock (R. F. Keeler et al. 1977).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Shorter plants with more basal leaves have been recognized as subsp. gracilis; intermediates between the named varieties are abundant. Variety occidentalis was described from Michigan and Wisconsin as differing by its dense pubescence, which is a variable trait.
In the northern part of its range, Lupinus perennis is sympatric with L. polyphyllus and can be differentiated because the latter has more leaflets and a glabrous keel. Lupinus perennis is of conservation concern in some states and is an important host plant for lepidopterans; the federally endangered Karner Blue butterfly relies on L. perennis as a larval host plant and sundial lupine also is a larval host plant for Frosted Elfin (Callophrys irus) and Wild Indigo Duskywing (Erynnis baptisiae) butterflies and several species of moths.
Lupinus perennis is toxic and potentially fatal to livestock, due to the alkaloid D-lupaine (M. Wink et al. 1995).
Lupinus gracilis Nuttall (1834, not Kunth 1824) is an illegitimate name that pertains here.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Flowers 8–14 mm. | → 2 |
2. Flowers 10–14(–16) mm. | var. latifolius |
2. Flowers 8–10(–12) mm. | var. viridifolius |
1. Flowers 12–18 mm. | → 3 |
3. Stems densely hairy, not hollow; San Francisco Bay area, California. | var. dudleyi |
3. Stems glabrate or sparsely strigose, hollow; sw California or n Oregon to British Columbia. | → 4 |
4. Herbs 5–20 dm, caudex often unbranched; Arizona, California. | var. parishii |
4. Herbs 2.5–6 dm, caudex branched; n Oregon to British Columbia. | var. subalpinus |
- Local floras:
BC, 
CA, 
OR, 
WA - Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos,
Flora NW, 
PNW Herbaria, Turner Photog. 
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USDA Plants Database- LBJ Wildflower Center
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