Growth Form: Bajada Lupine is a multiple branched forb/herb covered with fuzzy looking, mostly dense short soft erect hairs, the stems are often upright or spreading out horizontally often ultimately turning upward.
Leaves: Bajada Lupine has compact green or light green to silvery-green leaves that are noticeably hairy or fuzzy; the leaves are palmatelycompound and the tips of the leaflets are rounded or oval at the edges.
Flower Color: Bajada Lupine has purple or pink and white pea-like flowers that are on a flowering stalk above the leaves and with only 1 to 3 or 4 flowers blooming at any one time; the fruit is a straight fuzzy legumepod.
Flowering Season: March, April and May.
Elevation: Usually lower than 5,500 feet (1,676 m).
Habitat Preferences: Various habitat types but common in sandy desert areas, open or disturbed areas and mid-level grasslands.
Recorded Range: Bajada Lupine is a common native plant in the Southwestern United States where it is found in; AZ, CA, NM, NV, TX and UT. Bajada Lupine is a Mojave Desert leaning species with the primary center of distribution found in southern California, southern Utah and Arizona; smaller population grouping are found in Utah, New Mexico and Texas.
Genus Information: In North America, USDA Plants Database lists 356 species for Lupinus which includes sub-species and varieties. Worldwide, World Flora Online includes 630 accepted species names for the genus. The Plant List lists 626 species of Lupinus and an additional 446 of infraspecific rank for the genus Lupinus.
Members of the genus Lupine are native to North and South America and also to North Africa and the Mediterranean.
In the Southwestern United States: Arizona has 26 species of Lupinus, California has 94 species, Nevada has 40 species, New Mexico has 19 species, Texas has 8 species, Utah has 25 species. Data approximate, subject to revision.
There are 3 sub-species in Lupinus concinnus;
Lupinus concinnus subsp. concinnus, (CA);
Lupinus concinnus subsp. optatus, (CA);
Lupinus concinnus subsp. orcuttii, Orcutt's Lupine, (see range above);
Bajada Lupine, Lupinus concinnus has attractive flowers, the flowers and their seeds may be visited by hummingbirds and/or small mammals including rodents and granivorous birds in search of nectar or food.
Beneficial Value to Butterflies, Honey Bees and Insects
Bajada Lupine, Lupinus concinnus has attractive flowers, the flowers and their plants may be visited by butterflies, moths, flies, honeybees, Native Bees and other insects in search of food and nectar.
****Special Value to Native Bees****
According to The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation or other source, Bajada Lupine, Lupinus concinnus, is recognized by pollination ecologists as attracting large numbers of Native bees. Click here for more information on their Pollinator Conservation Program.
Etymology:
The genus “Lupinus” (Lupi'nus:) is from the Latin words lupus or lupinus for "wolf," a reference to the earlier thoughts that the plants were robbing soil or nutrients; Lupinus species actually replenishes the soil.
