Posted in Nature Knowledge

NATURE KNOWLEDGE: Lupine

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The purple flower, in my enhanced photo, is a Lupine (Lupin). This variety is the perennial version that blooms in the Spring and early Summer. It belongs to the legume family and, when it goes to seed, produces small edible pea-like pods. Many countries, on the Mediterranean Sea, serve the brine soaked pods as appetizers. In fact, the plant’s resistance to cooler temperatures, make it a cash crop which is beginning to rival even soy beans.

Natural Patterns 2 I have quite a large area of these beauties at my camp. They are hardy and prolific. The foliage of these flowers is quite distinct. Upon close examination, the leaves have fine “hairs”. (click on my photo for a closer look) That feature makes the delightful, large fronds water-repellent. The lupine patch is my first visit, with my camera, immediately after a rain shower since the foliage offers wonderful droplet shots.

The name Lupine comes from the Latin, Lupinus. It means “belonging to the wolf” and describes the manner, in which, it ravages the land where it dwells. They are so beautiful and range from one foot to four feet tall. Lupine are certainly welcome to ravage my woodland retreat!

Lupines
Lupines (Photo credit: RahelSharon)

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I love a well told story. If it makes me laugh, all the better.

8 thoughts on “NATURE KNOWLEDGE: Lupine

  1. Love these flowers…You’re lucky to have them at your woodland retreat!

    1. I encourage their spread by tossing the seed pods everywhere. Luckily, the foliage is so easy to recognize and avoids my early weeding practices. 😉

      1. Yeah, those weeds. I never know what’s a weed and what a flower. So when I put seeds down I never weed until it’s too late and then end up with no flowers…LoL:) Sooner or later I’ll learn.

      2. Try taking a photo of the weeds that you identify…use that as a reference. Worth a try. 🙂

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