Excerpts from Jim Conrad's
Naturalist Newsletter

adapted from the April 10, 2005 Newsletter issued from the Sierra Nevada foothills somewhat east of Placerville, California, USA
BUSH LUPINE

Many lupine species occur in California and the Bush Lupine, BUSH LUPINE, Lupinus albifrons, 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 isn'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.