Lupinus chamissonis
Encyclopedia
Lupinus chamissonis is a species of lupin
e known by the common name Chamisso bush lupine. It is endemic to California
, where it is known from most of the length of the coastline. It grows in sand dunes
and other immediate coastal habitat.
growing one half to two meters tall. Each palmate leaf is made up of 5 to 9 leaflets up to 2.5 centimeters long. The herbage is coated in silvery hairs.
The inflorescence
bears whorls of flowers each about one to 1.5 centimeters long. Each flower is light purple to blue with a yellow spot on its banner. The fruit is a hairy legume pod 2.5 to 3.5 centimeters long.
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 known by the common name Chamisso bush lupine. It is endemic 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...
, where it is known from most of the length of the coastline. It grows in sand dunes
Dune
In physical geography, a dune is a hill of sand built by wind. Dunes occur in different forms and sizes, formed by interaction with the wind. Most kinds of dunes are longer on the windward side where the sand is pushed up the dune and have a shorter "slip face" in the lee of the wind...
and other immediate coastal habitat.
Description
Lupinus chamissonis is a spreading, bushy shrubShrub
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...
growing one half to two meters tall. Each palmate leaf is made up of 5 to 9 leaflets up to 2.5 centimeters long. The herbage is coated in silvery hairs.
The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
bears whorls of flowers each about one to 1.5 centimeters long. Each flower is light purple to blue with a yellow spot on its banner. The fruit is a hairy legume pod 2.5 to 3.5 centimeters long.