Common Name: White Lupin

General Information

Lupinus albus is an erect, branched, annual plant producing a short, bushy plant up to 120cm tall with a strong taproot[].
The plant is sometimes cultivated for its edible seeds and as a geen manure, and is known to have been cultivated since ancient times in Greece, Italy, Egypt and Cyprus. Its importance has fluctuated often during the history of its cultivation; at present it has almost disappeared in central Europe, while it is becoming more widely grown in the Americas. It is a traditional minor pulse crop, grown around the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, and in the Nile valley, extending to Sudan and Ethiopia. It is also occasionally grown elsewhere, including in Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mauritius, United States and South America (mainly Brazil and Chile). The plant is also the source of an oil, a traditional medicine and has other minor uses. It is often grown as an ornamental[, ].

Known Hazards

Lupinus species in general (and especially the seeds) contain a range of bitter-tasting alkaloids such as lupine, anagyrine, sparteine and hydroxylupanine. The pharmacological effects of these alkaloids are that they block ganglionic transmission, decrease cardiac contractility and contract uterine smooth muscle[]. When ingested in moderate to large quantities they can cause symptoms such as respiratory depression and slow heartbeat, sleepiness and convulsions[].
Alkaloid levels can vary greatly from species to species, and several members of the genus are used for food. In some species low-alkaloid, sweeter-tasting varieties have been developed. There are also techniques (particularly soaking and discarding the soak water) that lower the alkaloid levels.
Unless it is known that the plant is low in alkaloids then caution should be applied to any ingestion of the plant[].
Fungal toxins can readily invade the crushed seed and can cause chronic illness[].

Botanical References

,

Range

Southern Europe to western Asia - Slovenia to Bulgaria, south to Greece and Turkey

Habitat

Disturbed ground on acid soils[, ]. The plant prefers disturbed sites and poor soils, where there is less competition from other species[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

White lupin is primarily a plant of the temperate zone, though it has been successfullty cultivated in the tropics, often at higher elevations up to 3,000 metres. It is usually grown at mean monthly temperatures during the growing season of 15 - 25°c, the optimum being 18 - 24°c; higher temperatures and moisture stress hinder flowering and pod setting. The plant is cold-tolerant, but temperatures of -6 to -8°c are harmful at germination, whilst temperatures of -3 to -5°c are harmful at flowering. A rainfall of 400 - 1,000mm during the growing period is optimal for yield[].
An easily grown plant, it requires a sunny position, but can succeed in any moderately good, well-drained soil[, , ]. It prefers a light acid soil but tolerates adverse conditions[]. Growth is hampered on heavy clay and waterlogged soils, while calcareous or alkaline soils induce chlorosis and reduce growth, frequently precluding cultivation[]. Prefers a pH in the range 4.5 - 7.5[]. Lupin species are drought-tolerant due to their deep roots, but are sensitive to moisture deficiency during the reproductive period[].
There are some named varieties, many of which have bitter seeds that contain toxic alkaloids and require leaching before they are eaten but some sweet varieties with a very low alkaloid content have also been developed[, ]. These sweet varieties are perfectly wholesome as food for humans and include the cultivar 'Kiev'[].
There is some confusion between this species and Lupinus nanus[].
A deep rooting plant[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[]. When removing plant remains at the end of the growing season, it is best to only remove the aerial parts of the plant, leaving the roots in the ground to decay and release their nitrogen.

Edible Uses

Seed - cooked[, , , , ]. Used as a protein-rich vegetable or savoury dish in any of the ways that cooked beans are used, they can also be roasted or ground into a powder and mixed with cereal flours in making bread etc[]. The roasted seeds can be used as a snack in much the same way as peanuts[]. If the seed is bitter this is due to the presence of toxic alkaloids and the seed should be thoroughly leached by soaking it and then discarding the soak water before cooking[]. Processing techniques such as sprouting and fermentation into tempeh also strongly reduce the alkaloid content[]. Seeds contain 32 - 40% protein, 8 - 12% oil[].
In Ethiopia a high-quality spirit (‘araki’) is distilled from fermented seeds[].

An edible oil is obtained from the seed[, ].

The roasted seed is used as a coffee substitute[, , , ].

Medicinal

The seeds, taken internally, are carminative, deobstruent, diuretic, emmenagogue, hypoglycaemic, pectoral and vermifuge[, , ]. The ground up seed, mixed with honey or vinegar, is used as a cure for worms[].
When bruised and soaked in water the seeds are used as a poultice on ulcers, boils and other skin comlaints[, ].

Agroforestry Uses:

A useful spring-sown green manure crop, especially on light soils. It is deep rooting, fairly fast growing, produces a good bulk and fixes atmospheric nitrogen[, , , ]. A traditional green manure of olive plantations and vineyards[].
White lupin is sensitive to phosphorus deficiency, but its roots can make more phosphorus available through acidification of the rhizosphere, a property from which also associated crops benefit[].
Wheat intercropped with white lupin has access to a larger pool of phosphorus, manganese and nitrogen than sole-cropped wheat[].
The flowers are very attractive to bees and produce a good honey[].

Other Uses

The seed contains up to 12% oil. This is used in making soap[].

A fibre obtained from the stems is used for making cloth etc[].

A cosmetic face-mask can be made from lupin flour, this is used to invigorate tired skin[].
A hydrolyzed extract of the flowers is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin protector[].
The seed oil is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner[].
The fraction of the seed oil that is not saponified is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as an emollient[].

Burning the seeds is used as an insect repellent[],
The alkaloids extracted from the seed of bitter varieties has been used as a pesticide[].

Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water and sow in mid spring in situ[, ]. You may need to protect the seed from mice. Germination should take place within 2 weeks.