Plant Image
Flower spike
Big Bug Mesa - Sue Smith


Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants

Lupinus palmeri - Bluebonnet lupine

Synonyms: Lupinus argenteus var. palmeri
Other Common Names: Palmer's lupine
Plant Form: Forb or Subshrub

Family: Fabaceae


   
 
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Flowers
Big Bug Mesa
Sue Smith
Leaf
Big Bug Mesa
Sue Smith
Leaves
Big Bug Mesa
Sue Smith
Plant - summer
Big Bug Mesa
Sue Smith
Forb Plant Description

Origin: Native   Life Cycle: Perennial
General Desc: A hairy and several stemmed plant. Its purplish-blue, pea-like flowers have a white center and occur in terminal spike-like flower heads.
Identification notes: Long-stemmed basal leaves usually present during blooming. Leaflets have silky, long, soft, slender, somewhat appressed hairs above. The longer hairs of stems spreading. Purplish-blue and white flowers are on short branches on spike-like flower heads.
Height: 12 to 18 inches


Habitat

Habitat Description: Dry, rocky pine forests in part shade, mostly in pine forests.
Plant Communities: Pinyon Juniper Woodland, Montane Conifer Forest
Elevation: 4000 - 8000 feet


Flower Characteristics

Color: Purplish-blue     Shape: Irregular in elongated clusters     Tubular: Y     Flowering Period: Apr - Oct
Description: Pea-like flowers, 1/3 inch long, have a white center in the banner petal and occur in terminal spike-like flower heads that are 2 to 8 inches long. The flowers bloom from the bottom up.


Leaf and Stem Characteristics

Leaf Color: Green     Leaf Type: Simple     Leaf Shape: Palmate     Leaf Margin: Smooth     Leaf Attachment: Basal and opposite     Leaves Clasp: N
Hairs: Leaves and stems     Spines: N
Leaf Description: Leaves are palmately divided; leaflets are 1/2 to 1-1/2 inches long, less than 1/3 inch wide. Long-petioled basal leaves are often present during blooming.


Fruit and Seed Characteristics

Fruit Color: Green turning to tan   
Fruit Type: Pod
Fruit Notes: 3/4 inch long; oval and flat; covered with short fuzzy hairs.


  Arizona Cooperative Extension
Yavapai County
840 Rodeo Dr #C
Prescott, AZ 86305
(928) 445-6590
Version 8.0  
http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetailForb.php  
Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022
Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson  
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