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Useful Temperate Plants

Lupinus argenteus

Pursh

Fabaceae

+ Synonyms

Lupinus abiesicola C.P.Sm.

Lupinus acclivatatis C.P.Sm.

Lupinus aduncus Greene

Lupinus alexanderae C.P.Sm.

Lupinus alpestris auct., p.p.

Lupinus alpestris argentatus (Rydb.) C.P.Sm.

Lupinus alsophilus Greene

Lupinus annieae C.P.Sm.

Lupinus argentinus Rydb.

Lupinus calcicola C.P.Sm.

Lupinus candidissimus Eastw.

Lupinus cariciformis C.P.Sm.

Lupinus caudatus Kellogg

Lupinus charlestonensis C.P.Sm.

Lupinus clarkensis C.P.Sm.

Lupinus clokeyanus C.P.Sm.

Lupinus corymbosus A.Heller

Lupinus decumbens Torr.

Lupinus edward-palmeri C.P.Sm.

Lupinus flavo-pinuum C.P.Sm.

Lupinus fontis-batchelderi C.P.Sm.

Lupinus fremontensis C.P.Sm.

Lupinus fulvomaculatus Payson

Lupinus funstonanus C.P.Sm.

Lupinus garrettianus C.P.Sm.

Lupinus gayophytophilus C.P.Sm.

Lupinus holosericeus Nutt.

Lupinus holosericeus Torr. & A.Gray

Lupinus hullianus C.P.Sm.

Lupinus ingratus Greene

Lupinus jaegeranus C.P.Sm.

Lupinus junipericola C.P.Sm.

Lupinus keckianus C.P.Sm.

Lupinus lanatocarinus C.P.Sm.

Lupinus lariversianus C.P.Sm.

Lupinus laxiflorus Douglas ex Lindl.

Lupinus laxiflorus argophyllus (A.Gray) M.E.Jones

Lupinus laxiflorus foliosus Torr. & A.Gray

Lupinus laxiflorus tenellus (Douglas ex G.Don) Torr. & A.Gray

Lupinus leucopsis utahensis S.Watson

Lupinus lucidulus Rydb.

Lupinus lupines Rydb.

Lupinus meionanthus heteranthus S.Watson

Lupinus merrillanus C.P.Sm.

Lupinus montis-cookii C.P.Sm.

Lupinus montis-libertatis C.P.Sm.

Lupinus olive-brownae C.P.Sm.

Lupinus olive-nortonae C.P.Sm.

Lupinus ornatus glabratus S.Watson

Lupinus palmeri S.Watson

Lupinus parviflorus complicates Kuntze

Lupinus parviflorus fulvomaculatus (Payson) Harmon

Lupinus patulipes C.P.Sm.

Lupinus populorum C.P.Sm.

Lupinus portae-westgardiae C.P.Sm.

Lupinus pulcher Eastw.

Lupinus rosei Eastw.

Lupinus rubricaulis Greene

Lupinus sicco-silvae C.P.Sm.

Lupinus spathulatus Rydb.

Lupinus standingii C.P.Sm.

Lupinus stenophyllus (Nutt.) Rydb.

Lupinus stinchfieldiae C.P.Sm.

Lupinus summae C.P.Sm.

Lupinus tenellus Douglas ex G.Don

Lupinus trainianus C.P.Sm.

Lupinus utahensis Moldenke

Common Name: Silvery Lupin

No Image.

General Information

Lupinus argenteus is an erect, perennial plant producing a cluster of stems that are branched above; it can grow around 30 - 60cm tall[
71
Title
A California Flora.
Publication
 
Author
Munz P.A. & Keck D.D.
Publisher
University of California Press; Los Angeles
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent flora but no pictures. Not for the casual reader.
,
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental in gardens.

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[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. When ingested in moderate to large quantities they can cause symptoms such as respiratory depression and slow heartbeat, sleepiness and convulsions[
293
Title
Poisonous Plants of North Carolina
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/poison.htm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent concise but comprehensive guide to toxic plants that grow in N. Carolina. It lists even those plants that are of very low toxicity, including several well-known food plants such as carrots and potatoes.
].
This species is considered to be one of the more toxic[
1309
Title
The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation
Publication
 
Author
Allen O.N.; Allen E.K.
Publisher
University of Wisconsin
Year
1981
ISBN
0-333-32221-5
Description
An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus.
].
Several members of the genus have been used as food and 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[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Fungal toxins can readily invade the crushed seed and can cause chronic illness[
65
Title
A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Frohne. D. and Pfänder. J.
Publisher
Wolfe
Year
1984
ISBN
0723408394
Description
Brilliant. Goes into technical details but in a very readable way. The best work on the subject that I've come across so far.
].

Botanical References

71
Title
A California Flora.
Publication
 
Author
Munz P.A. & Keck D.D.
Publisher
University of California Press; Los Angeles
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent flora but no pictures. Not for the casual reader.
,
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

Range

Western and central N. America - British Colombia to Saskatchewan, south to California, New Mexico and Texas

Habitat

Dry flats and slopes in sagebrush scrub, juniper woodland and yellow pine forest; at elevations from 1,200 - 1,500 metres[
71
Title
A California Flora.
Publication
 
Author
Munz P.A. & Keck D.D.
Publisher
University of California Press; Los Angeles
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent flora but no pictures. Not for the casual reader.
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitPerennial
Height0.50 m
PollinatorsBees, Insects
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Lupinus argenteus is a very cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures down to around -30°c when fully dormant[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Members of this genus are mainly found in dry habitats, often on stony and low fertility soils[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. In cultivation they generally grow well if given a sunny position in a deep, well-drained, moderately fertile soil with a neutral to slightly acid pH[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
A very variable species, as can be seen from the long list of synonyms.
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[
755
Title
Nodulation Plants in GRIN Taxonomy
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxnodul.pl?language=en
Publisher
United States Department of Agriculture
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An online database listing plants that have either positive or negative reports on root and stem nodulation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A poultice of the crushed leaves is used as a treatment for poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) blisters[
257
Title
Native American Ethnobotany
Publication
 
Author
Moerman. D.
Publisher
Timber Press. Oregon.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-88192-453-9
Description
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
]. (As Lupinus ingratus) A cold infusion of the leaves is used as a wash

The leaves are used as an emetic, mainly for ceremonial purposes[
257
Title
Native American Ethnobotany
Publication
 
Author
Moerman. D.
Publisher
Timber Press. Oregon.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-88192-453-9
Description
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
]. (As Lupinus aduncus)

Other Uses

We have no specific information for this species, but the soakwater used to extract alkaloids from several edible species of lupin has been shown to be effective as a biocide[
277
Title
Plants Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://plants.usda.gov/java/factSheet
Publisher
United States Department of Agriculture
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An online database with an excellent collection of fact sheets about native N. American plants.
].

Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water and then sow in early spring in a greenhouse[
1
Title
RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Publication
 
Author
F. Chittendon.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1951
ISBN
-
Description
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
,
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. The seed is best sown in individual pots since the plants strongly resent root disturbance. Germination should take place within a couple of weeks. If sown in trays, then the seedlings should be potted up into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. Plant out in early summer when the plants are around 15cm tall.
It should also be possible to sow the seed in situ in mid to late spring. Protect the seed from mice.
Basal cuttings, mid spring in a cold frame. Harvest the shoots when they are about 10cm long with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up in a very sandy soil in individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.
Division in early spring. Difficult.
Lupin propagation is usually carried out by seed - vegetative propagation is normally only used when propagating named cultivars[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Lupinus+argenteus>

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