Lupinus uncialis

Lilliput lupine, Lilliput Lupine

Family: Fabaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2

Lilliput lupine is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native annual found in the Modoc Plateau in open areas, barrens, and talus within sagebrush and pinyon/juniper woodland on limestone and volcanic substrates at elevations of 1,300 to 1,600 meters. Flowering from May to July, this diminutive plant produces delicately colored white and purple flowers with distinctive two-toned petals. Growing exceptionally small at just 1 to 2 centimeters tall, it forms densely tufted clusters with hairy stems and distinctive disk-like persistent cotyledons. Its leaves are composed of 3 to 5 tiny oblanceolate leaflets, each measuring 2 to 7 millimeters long and covered in fine hairs. The fruit is a small ovate pod 6 to 10 millimeters long, also covered in characteristic hairy indumentum.

Habitat: Open areas, barrens, talus in sagebrush and pinyon/juniper woodland, on limestone, rhyolite, volcanic gravels

Bloom period: May-Jul

Elevation: 1300-1600 m

Bioregions: MP

California counties: Modoc

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