Many lupine species occur in California and this is one of the most common in the foothills. It is distinguished by blue to red-purple flowers about 1/3-inch long with a white spot on the corolla's upper petal, and smallish leaves (at lower left n the picture, with leaflets spreading like the fingers on a hand). The species may live more than one year but doesn't really woody. It grows in meadows, open spots in the woods, and even in lawns that aren't mowed too often. Flowers during most of spring.