Lupinus constancei

The lassics lupine

Family: Fabaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered

The lassics lupine is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in northeastern North Coast Ranges, specifically in the Lassics area of southeastern Humboldt and southwestern Trinity counties, growing in serpentine barrens and lower montane coniferous forest openings at elevations of 1,500 to 2,000 meters. Flowering in July, this plant produces distinctive pink flowers with a light yellow spot and dark rose keel, approximately 8 to 12 millimeters long. Growing in a matted form with prostrate stems less than 15 centimeters tall, it features distinctively long and shaggy hairs covering its structure. Its leaves are clustered near the base, composed of 6 to 7 leaflets each 10 to 20 millimeters long and 8 to 10 millimeters wide. The fruit is a shaggy-hairy pod 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters long containing 3 to 5 tan seeds.

Habitat: Serpentine barrens, openings in lower montane coniferous forest

Bloom period: Jul

Elevation: 1500-2000 m

Bioregions: ne NCoRO (The Lassics, se Humboldt, sw Trinity cos.).

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.