Shrubs, 10–20 dm, densely silver appressed-hairy. Coty-ledons deciduous, petiolate. Stems erect, branched. Leaves cauline; stipules 5–20 mm; petiole 4–10 cm; leaflets 7–9, blades 5–50 × 4–7 mm, adaxial surface densely pubescent, silver-hairy. Peduncles 7–20 cm; bracts deciduous, 8–9 mm. Racemes 10–70 cm, rachis persistent; flowers whorled or not. Pedicels 4–6 mm. Flowers with distinctive sweet smell, 10–13 mm; calyx 6–8 mm, bulge or spur 0–1 mm, abaxial lobe entire or 3-toothed, adaxial lobe deeply notched; corolla violet to lavender, banner patch bright yellow, turning purple, banner usually hairy abaxially, keel usually ± lobed proximally, abaxial margins glabrous, adaxial margin ciliate middle to tip. Legumes 3–5 cm, silky. Seeds 5–8, mottled yellow-brown with lateral lines.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat: Desert slopes, washes.
Elevation: (700–)1200–2700 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Loading map...

Calif., Mexico (Baja California).

Discussion

Lupinus excubitus is known from Inyo to San Bernardino counties in the Mojave Desert, desert mountains, and southern Sierra Nevada east of the crest (transmontane).

Circumscriptions of Lupinus excubitus have been diverse. See discussion under 32. L. albifrons, under which many varieties now have been treated as synonyms.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.