Lupinus lepidus var. lepidus
Contents
Plant
DESCRIPTION:
Prairie lupine is a small perennial lupine of diverse form and habitat in the Pacific Northwest. It ranges from matted low growing forms to erect plants ranging from 10-35 cm high. The palmately compound leaves have 5-7 oblanceolate leaflets. The leaflets range from 1-4 cm long and are noticeably hairy on both surfaces. The flowers are dark blue to purple, sometimes white in color with a lighter banner. The banner is well reflexed from the keel and is not hairy on its surface. There are five known varieties of Lupinus lepidus. Variety lepidus is best described by it’s extended racemes growing above the longest leaves and the length of it’s flowers between 11-13mm long. [1]
Seed
Abbreviation: LULE
Seed sample from: 2011
Average Measurement: 2.7 x 1.8 x 1.3
Measurement Range: L: 2 - 3, W: 1.5 - 2, D: 1 - 1.5
Features
Color: Seeds ranging in color from off-white, tan, brown, to gray. Lots of variation in color. Patterned with mottled speckling which is light to dense. Speckles light brown to dark brown.
Surface: Seed surface is smooth and glossy. Some seeds have small concave pockets. [2]
Latitudinal Cross Section: elliptical 
Longitudinal Cross Section: elliptical 
Basic Explanations and Assumptions:
The dimensions for the seeds are length x width x depth. The location of the hilum is used as the base of the seed, and the length is measured from hilum to the opposite apex. Where a style is present, the length is measured from the hilum to the bottom of the style. Width is measured at a right angle to the length at the widest part. Depth is measured at a right angle to the intersection of height and width lines.
Measurements included are the mean average for each measurement of ten separate seeds.
All measurements in millimeters unless otherwise noted.
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE AND HABITAT REQUIREMENTS:
Distribution
Distributed in the lowlands west of the Cascade Mountains from southern British Columbia to northwestern Oregon.
Ecological Setting
Occurs in lowlands areas growing in arid climates (40-65 inches of annual precipitation) at elevations below 600 feet on gravelly to sandy soils, often on flat or mounded plains of recessional glacial outwash.
Soil Texture
Coarse and fine soil, low nitrogen and no humus
Nutrients
Soil Reaction / Salinity: 7.0-8.0 pH, no salinity tolerance Moisture Regime: Low water use – high drought tolerance Shade Tolerance: Shade intolerant
Successional Status
Prairie lupine was the first plant to colonize the devastated slopes of Mount St. Helens Seeds are probably dispersed by explosive dehiscence (bursting of the seed pods) and rolling, or by erosion and deposition.
USES:
-Site Rehabilitation -Wildlife Medium palatability for browsing and grazing animals -Landscaping -First Nations -Other
PROPAGATION:
a) SEED PROPAGATION
Sow lupine seeds in potting soil mixture of coarse and fine particles. Like other legumes prairie lupine has root nodules which house bacteria which fix nitrogen, providing fertilizer for the plant. Potting soil can be inoculated by mixing a small amount of soil from the seed collection site in the potting mix. Use low nitrogen fertilizer and no humus. Plant seeds singularly in long narrow pots (at least 3”) and transplant from pots into the field within the same year (about 8 months). Lupine seedlings have very sensitive roots and suffer from root damage when handled excessively. Sensitivity to the root system is especially needed when transplanting from nursery containers into the field. Mist lightly, daily with restricted water.
Flowering, Fruiting and Seed Characteristics
Flowering Time Fruit Ripening Time Seed Collection Time Crop Intervals No. of seeds per pound Seed Viability June - Aug Spring - Fall June - Aug Perennial 16000
Fruit and Seed Collection and Extraction
Seed can be hand collected from June to August, but collecting is slow due to the small size of the plant. Seeds should be dried in the pods in paper bags. Remove the seeds from the pods by hand thresh and screen. Cuttings can also be taken from the side shoots of hardened stems in the spring.
Seed Storage
Store air-dried seed under cool, dry conditions. Protect from small mammals and rodents. Lupine seeds have a hard seed coat, and because related lupine species are known to have long-lived dormant seed banks (e.g. L. arboreus was germinated in a seed bank study after 45 years), it is likely that prairie lupine seeds are also long-lived and can be stored at low moisture and temperature levels for several years.
Fruit/Seed Dormancy and Treatment
No cold stratification required. Seed requires scarification. Shake in jar half-filled with coarse sand, scarify with sand paper7, or rock tumbler for two hours. After scarification, soak in hot water until the water has cooled (approximately 3 hours). Seeds that sink have absorbed enough water to be sown. Those that do not sink should be dried, scarified and soaked in water again.
