Lupinus polyphyllus var. humicola

Holmgren's lupine

Family: Fabaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3

Holmgren's lupine is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native perennial found in the northeastern desert mountains including the Last Chance Range, Grapevine Mountains, and Inyo County in dry desert slopes, pinyon and juniper woodland, and grassy sites at elevations of 1,500 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces violet flowers with a distinctive yellow banner spot, arranged in open to dense inflorescences 10 to 26 centimeters long. Growing 4 to 7 decimeters tall with long-hairy stems and a partially exposed caudex, it has an upright and somewhat robust form. Its leaves feature 7 to 12 silvery-gray leaflets that appear linear and are often folded, measuring 30 to 55 millimeters long with a silky, minutely strigose texture. The fruit develops as a long pod reaching 4 to 5 centimeters in length.

Habitat: dry desert slopes, pinyon/juniper woodland, grassy and open wooded sites

Bloom period: May-Jun(Sep)

Elevation: 1500-2500 m

Bioregions: ne DMtns (Last Chance Range, Grapevine Mtns, Inyo Co.)

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