Lupins
What are they?
The lupins are rather variable in growth form as they can be either annuals, clump-forming herbaceous perennials, or woody perennials. Despite this, they remain a rather distinctive group within the Pea Family (Fabaceae), with their narrow, upright spikes of flowers and their palmately-lobed leaves, with the leaflets all radiating out from a central point at the tip of the leaf stalk.
Where are they found?
The woody stemmed Tree Lupin is well established at a number of coastal sites and occasionally found on rough ground inland. Other, herbaceous species may occasionally be found on roadsides and in grassy places where seed may have been spilt or where plants might persist from dumped garden waste. A few, longer-lived colonies may have come from deliberate roadside plantings.
Identification
The basic combination of upright spikes of flowers and palmately-lobed leaves readily identifies lupins. Some herbaceous forms can be difficult to tell apart as plants are all rather variable and specimens have probably been misidentified in the past, but details of flower spikes and the appearance of the leaves should help to identify most plants found.
Tree Lupin Lupinus arboreus
Introduced from western North America as a garden ornamental. Frequent to common in coastal dunes and on sandy soils, especially in East Suffolk. Flowers June to August. A woody-stemmed shrub to 2.5m in height. Flowers of most East Anglian plants are yellow, but cream, white and blue-tinted plants occasionally also occur.
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Russell Lupin Lupinus x regalis
A plant of cultivated origin, being a hybrid between Tree Lupin and Large-leaved Lupin. Occasionally recorded as a garden escape or throw-out on roadsides or rough ground. Some persistent colonies on roadside banks may originate from deliberate plantings. Flowers June to September. A herbaceous perennial to 1.5m in height. Flowers seem to come in almost any shade of yellow, pink, red, blue, purple or white, with flowers often bicoloured and colonies of plants typically consist of a number of different colours growing together. Plants have the herbaceous habit of Large-flowered Lupin but the branched habit of Tree Lupin.
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Narrow-leaved Lupin Lupinus angustifolius
Introduced from southern Europe as a fodder crop species in the past but probably no longer grown commercially. Recorded in the past as a casual from spilt grain and may occasionally appear from garden waste. Flowers June to September. An annual or biennial to 60cm in height with a single stem or a few side branches. Flowers blue, leaves with very narrow leaflets.
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