Kellogg's Spurred Lupine

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Kellogg's Spurred Lupine
• Tailcup Lupine

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Lupinus, and its specific species name, Lupinus caudatus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range that spans across multiple continents. Within the Indian Subcontinent, it can be found growing in Bangladesh. Its distribution also extends significantly into the Northwestern U.S.A. region. Specifically, it inhabits various landscapes across the states of Colorado, Idaho, and Montana. Additionally, the species is documented to occur within the borders of Oregon.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Lupinus caudatus is characterized by its classification as a perennial species, though its developmental stages may exhibit variability depending on environmental conditions and resource availability. As a perennial, the plant is capable of living for multiple years, often establishing a robust root system that allows it to persist through various seasonal cycles. Throughout its lifespan, it progresses through distinct vegetative and reproductive phases, eventually producing inflorescences that facilitate seed production for subsequent generations. This long-term survival strategy enables the plant to stabilize within its habitat, navigating fluctuations in moisture and soil nutrients to ensure continuous growth and successful flowering over successive seasons.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Lupinus caudatus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, typically reaching an average plant height of 1.5 m. This species functions as a self-supporting plant, neither acting as a climber (such as a vine or liana) nor requiring external structures for support. It is a strictly terrestrial organism, existing as an independent species that does not exhibit parasitic or epiphytic behavior.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

1.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Lupinus caudatus is characterized by a metabolic framework centered on a C3 photosynthetic pathway, where carbon fixation occurs via the Calvin cycle through the direct carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate by the enzyme RuBisCO. This C3 mechanism dictates the plant's water-use efficiency and gas exchange strategies, necessitating a balance between CO2 uptake and transpiration to mitigate photorespiration. As a member of the Fabaceae family, its physiological processes are deeply integrated with symbiotic nitrogen fixation, involving specialized root nodules where Rhizobium bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, thereby fueling the high protein synthesis required for its growth and development. This nitrogen assimilation is closely coupled with its photosynthetic output, as the energy derived from the C3 pathway drives the high metabolic demands of both the nitrogen-fixing nodules and the structural expansion of its vegetative tissues.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Lupinus caudatus is primarily driven by its seed production, which exhibits specific morphological characteristics regarding individual seed weight. The seed mass of this species shows a notable degree of variability, with a calculated mean seed mass of 0.01309 g. Within the population, the dimensions of these seeds fluctuate, reaching a maximum recorded seed mass of 0.001243 g and a minimum seed mass of 0.000717 g. These metrics are critical indicators of the plant's reproductive output and the potential vigor of the resulting progeny.

Seed mass max:

0.001243 g

Seed mass mean:

0.01309 g

Seed mass min:

0.000717 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Lupinus caudatus has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include glucose.

glucose

1. Journal of herbal pharmacotherapy

Activities

Lupinus caudatus has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antihyperglycemic.

Antihyperglycemic

1. Journal of herbal pharmacotherapy