Lupinus elmeri

South fork mountain lupine, South Fork Mountain Lupine

Family: Fabaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

South fork mountain lupine is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in northwestern North Coast Ranges, specifically in South Fork Mountain area of Humboldt and Trinity counties, in open areas within conifer forest at elevations of 1,500 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces pale yellow flowers with an upcurved keel, spiraled in clusters 15 to 20 centimeters long. Growing 60 to 90 centimeters tall with erect green stems emerging from a stout red base, it has an upright and sturdy appearance. Its leaves are compound with 6 to 10 leaflets, each 15 to 60 millimeters long, covered in soft, wavy hairs and arranged on petioles 1 to 7 centimeters long. The fruit is a hairy pod measuring 2.5 to 5 centimeters in length.

Habitat: Open areas in conifer forest

Bloom period: Jun-Jul

Elevation: (1370)1500-2000 m

Bioregions: nw NCoRH (South Fork Mtn, Humboldt, Trinity cos.).

California counties: Trinity, Humboldt, Lake

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