Lupinus argenteus var. argentatus

Herbs 2–5.5 dm, glabrous or sparsely pubescent. Stems nor­mally branched. Leaves mostly cauline, basal usually absent at flowering; leaflet blades flat, oblanceolate, surfaces glabrous or adaxially pubescent. Racemes several. Pedicels 3–4 mm. Flowers: (7.5–)8–10 mm; calyx often distinctly gibbous abaxially at base; corolla blue, large, wings (7.5–)8–10 mm, banner spot blue or yellow, banner usually hairy abaxially. 2n = 48.

Phenology: Flowering Jun–Sep.
Habitat: Cool, moist mountain meadows, stream banks, lakeshores, high mountain elevations, sometimes to or above timberline.
Elevation: 1700–3400 m.

Distribution

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Ariz., Colo., Idaho, Mont., N.Mex., Utah, Wyo.

Discussion

Variety argentatus is known from the Rocky Mountains in Colorado to Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, southward to Arizona and New Mexico, and in the Wasatch and Utah plateaus, from Salt Lake to eastern Iron County, Utah. In Arizona, it is apparently restricted to the Kaibab Plateau, where it is rare.

Variety argentatus can be separated from the other varieties by the absence of a spur and its abaxially gibbous calyx. The herbs are mesomorphic plants of cool, moist or wet mountain meadows, the leaflets are green, flowers are relatively large, wings are 7.5–10 mm, and the stems are branched.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.