sundial lupine

(Lupinus perennis var. perennis)

Conservation Status
sundial lupine
 
  IUCN Red List

not listed

     
  NatureServe

N3-N4 - Vulnerable to Apparently Secure

SNR - Unranked

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
           
           
           
           
           
 
Description
 
 

Sundial lupine is a 8 to 24 tall, erect, perennial forb that rises on numerous stems from a well-developed taproot.

In its first year of growth this produces a rosette of basal leaves. In the second year it sends up several leafy, flowering stems.

The stems are more or less erect, slightly hairy, and marked with fine, vertical, parallel lines.

Stem leaves are alternate on ¾ to 2 long leaf stalks. They are palmately divided into 7 to 11 leaflets. The leaflets inversely lance-shaped with the attachment at the narrow end, ¾ to 2 long, with a blunt tip. The upper surface is hairless. The lower surface is thinly hairy. The leaf stalks are longer than the leaflets.

The inflorescence is an erect, 4 to 8 long cluster at the ends of the stems. The clusters are unbranched, sparsely flowered, and cone-shaped at the top.

The flowers are about 1 long and pea-like. The 5 petals are blue varying to pink and white, and are organized into a banner, 2 wings, and a keel formed by two petals fused together at the tip. The upper petal is shorter than the wings. The keel has a marginal fringe of hairs

The fruit is a yellow-grayish-brown, hairy, oblong, flattened pod with 5 or 6 seeds.

 
     
 

Height

 
 

8 to 24

 
     
 

Flower Color

 
 

Blue

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
 

Bigleaf lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus var. polyphyllus) reaches 40 at maturity. Its leaves are divided into 11 to 17 leaflets with pointed tips. The inflorescence is densely flowered.

 
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Dry to moderate moisture. Prairies, open woods. Full to partial sun.

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Flowering

 
 

May to June

 
     
 

Pests and Diseases

 
 

 

 
     
 
Use
 
 

Sundial lupine is the only plant used as food by the larva of the endangered Karner Blue butterfly.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 24, 28, 29, 30.

 
  2/20/2023      
         
 

Nativity

 
 

Native

 
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Locally common

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Kingdom Plantae (green algae and land plants)  
  Subkingdom Viridiplantae (green plants)  
  Infrakingdom Streptophyta (land plants and green algae)  
  Superdivision Embryophyta (land plants)  
  Division Tracheophyta (vascular plants)  
  Subdivision Spermatophytina (seed plants)  
  Class Magnoliopsida (flowering plants)  
  Superorder Rosanae  
 

Order

Fabales (legumes, milkworts, and allies)  
 

Family

Fabaceae (legumes)  
  Subfamily Faboideae  
  Tribe Genisteae (brooms, lupines, and allies)  
  Genus Lupinus (lupines)  
  Species Lupinus perennis (sundial lupine)  
  Subspecies Lupinus perennis ssp. perennis (sundial lupine)  
       
 

Variety of a Subspecies
This is a variety of a subspecies, and some sources list it as Lupinus perennis ssp. perennis var. perennis. The ICN (International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants), the rules governing the naming of plant species, makes it clear that this is not correct. Following ICN rules, a taxa “may also be referred to” with the inclusion of the intervening name (in this case, “ssp. perennis”), but that does not constitute a formal name.

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Lupinus perennis f. bicolor

Lupinus perennis f. leucanthus

Lupinus perennis f. roseus

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

lupine

sundial

sundial lupine

wild blue lupine

wild lupine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Palmate

Similar to a hand. Having more than three lobes or leaflets that radiate from a single point at the base of the leaf.

 
 
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Bill Reynolds

 
    sundial lupine      
           
 

The honeybee is attempting access. They need to separate the petals before entering.

  sundial lupine  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
  Lupinus perennis (Wild Lupine)
Allen Chartier
 
  Lupinus perennis (Wild Lupine)  

 

slideshow

       
 
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Other Videos
 
  Minnesota Native Plant - Wild Lupine (Lupinus Perennis)
MNNativePlants
 
   
 
About

Published on Jun 9, 2013

This video shows the Minnesota Native, Lupinus Perennis, or Wild Lupine.

   
  Lupinus perennis (Wild lupine)
Derelict Drifter
 
   
 
About

Published on Aug 20, 2012

Does anyone know if this is edible?

   
  Nelson 3 - Wild Lupine.MP4
newenglandwild
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Nov 2, 2010

New England Wild Flower Society Horticulture Intern Nelson discusses Lupinus perennis (sundial lupine or wild lupine) in Garden in the Woods' New England Garden of Rare and Endangered Plants.

   

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

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  Bill Reynolds
6/23/2004

Location: St. Louis Co. MN

The honeybee is attempting access. They need to separate the petals before entering.

sundial lupine  
           
 
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