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White Lupin

Lupinus albus

Please keep in mind that it is illegal to uproot a plant without the landowner's consent and care should be taken at all times not to damage wild plants. Wild plants should never be picked for pleasure and some plants are protected by law.
For more information please download the BSBI Code of Conduct PDF document.

Contents

Plant Profile

Flowering Months:
JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC
Order:
Fabales
Family:
Fabaceae (Pea)
Also in this family:
Alpine Milk-vetch, Alsike Clover, Birdsfoot, Birdsfoot Clover, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Bithynian Vetch, Bitter Vetch, Black Broom, Black Medick, Bladder Senna, Broad Bean, Broad-leaved Everlasting Pea, Bur Medick, Burrowing Clover, Bush Vetch, Clustered Clover, Common Broom, Common Gorse, Common Laburnum, Common Restharrow, Common Vetch, Crimson Clover, Crown Vetch, Dragon's Teeth, Dwarf Gorse, Dyer's Greenweed, False Acacia, Fine-leaved Vetch, Fodder Vetch, Garden Lupin, Garden Pea, Goat's Rue, Grass Vetchling, Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil, Hairy Bird's-foot Trefoil, Hairy Greenweed, Hairy Tare, Hairy Vetchling, Hairy-fruited Broom, Haresfoot Clover, Hop Trefoil, Horseshoe Vetch, Hungarian Vetch, Kidney Vetch, Knotted Clover, Large Trefoil, Lesser Trefoil, Lucerne, Marsh Pea, Meadow Vetchling, Narrow-leaved Bird's-foot Trefoil, Narrow-leaved Everlasting Pea, Narrow-leaved Vetch, Nootka Lupin, Norfolk Everlasting Pea, Orange Birdsfoot, Petty Whin, Purple Milk-vetch, Purple Oxytropis, Red Clover, Reversed Clover, Ribbed Melilot, Rough Clover, Russell Lupin, Sainfoin, Scorpion Senna, Scottish Laburnum, Sea Clover, Sea Pea, Sickle Medick, Slender Bird's-foot Trefoil, Slender Tare, Slender Trefoil, Small Melilot, Small Restharrow, Smooth Tare, Spanish Broom, Spanish Gorse, Spiny Restharrow, Spotted Medick, Spring Vetch, Strawberry Clover, Suffocated Clover, Sulphur Clover, Tall Melilot, Toothed Medick, Tree Lupin, Tuberous Pea, Tufted Vetch, Twin-headed Clover, Two-flowered Everlasting Pea, Upright Clover, Upright Vetch, Western Clover, Western Gorse, White Broom, White Clover, White Melilot, Wild Liquorice, Wood Vetch, Yellow Oxytropis, Yellow Vetch, Yellow Vetchling, Zigzag Clover
Type:
Flower
Life Cycle:
Perennial
Maximum Size:
2 metres tall
Habitats:
Gardens, grassland, roadsides, wasteland.

Flower:
֍
White, 5 petals
 
The flowers appear in spikes and are usually white but may sometimes be blue or violet. Flowers measure between 12 and 16mm across.
Fruit:
The fruit is a pod, similar to that of a garden pea pod. The seeds ripen in August and September.
Leaves:
A bushy and erect, many-branched, annual garden escape species. The very long-stalked leaves are palmate with 6 to 9 leaflets.
Other Names:
Field Lupine.
Frequency (UK):
Occasionally seen  

Similar Species

Other Information

Summary

Lupinus albus, commonly known as white lupin, is a perennial herbaceous plant that is native to the Mediterranean region. It is known for its spikes of white or cream-colored flowers which typically bloom in late spring to early summer. The plant has palmate leaves and can grow to be quite tall, up to 2 meters in height. The plant prefers well-drained soil and full sun, it is hardy in zones 6-10, and it is tolerant of heat and drought. The plant has been used for centuries as a food crop, with its seeds being rich in protein, minerals and essential amino acids. The plant also has a long history of use as a green manure crop and cover crop, to improve soil fertility and structure.

Blog

The White Lupin (Lupinus albus) is a flowering plant that belongs to the legume family, Fabaceae. It is native to the Mediterranean region but has been introduced and cultivated in other parts of the world, including North America and Australia. White Lupin is an annual plant that grows up to 2 meters in height and produces long, white or pink flowers that bloom from late spring to early summer. The plant has been used for a variety of purposes throughout history, including as a food source, medicine, and a natural fertilizer.

One of the unique features of White Lupin is its ability to fix nitrogen in the soil. Like other legumes, White Lupin has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria that allows it to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that can be used by plants. This means that White Lupin can improve soil fertility and reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers, which can have negative environmental impacts.

White Lupin has been cultivated for thousands of years as a food crop. Its seeds are high in protein and can be eaten cooked or raw. They are commonly used in traditional Mediterranean dishes such as hummus, falafel, and lupin flour-based products. The seeds are also used to make lupin coffee, a caffeine-free alternative to coffee that is popular in some parts of the world.

In addition to its use as a food source, White Lupin has also been used in traditional medicine. Its seeds contain alkaloids that have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and are being investigated for potential use in the treatment of various health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

White Lupin is also a valuable crop for sustainable agriculture practices. Its ability to fix nitrogen in the soil makes it an excellent crop rotation option, and its deep roots can help prevent soil erosion and improve soil structure. In some parts of the world, White Lupin is being used as a cover crop to improve soil health and reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers.

White Lupin has a long history of cultivation and use. Archaeological evidence suggests that it was grown in ancient Egypt and Rome for food and medicine. In the Middle Ages, it was a popular food crop in Europe, where it was used to make porridge and bread. In the 16th century, Spanish explorers introduced White Lupin to South America, where it became an important crop for the indigenous peoples.

In recent years, White Lupin has gained attention as a potential biofuel crop. Its high oil content and ability to grow in poor soil conditions make it an attractive option for biofuel production. However, more research is needed to determine its viability as a biofuel crop and to develop efficient methods for oil extraction.

Despite its many uses, White Lupin has some limitations as a crop. Its seeds contain bitter alkaloids that can be toxic if consumed in large quantities, so they must be processed before consumption. Additionally, the plant is susceptible to various pests and diseases, which can reduce yields and require the use of pesticides.

White Lupin has also been studied for its potential as a forage crop for livestock. Its high protein content and digestibility make it a good option for animal feed, particularly for ruminant animals like cattle and sheep. In some regions, White Lupin is grown as a forage crop in rotation with other crops to improve soil health and provide feed for livestock.

In addition to its traditional uses, White Lupin is also being explored for its potential as a source of natural dyes. The plant produces pigments that can be extracted and used to dye fabrics and other materials. This could provide a more sustainable alternative to synthetic dyes, which can have negative environmental impacts.

White Lupin is a hardy plant that can grow in a variety of soil types, including poor and acidic soils. It is also tolerant of drought and can grow in areas with low rainfall. This makes it a potentially valuable crop for regions with marginal land and limited resources.

The White Lupin is a fascinating and versatile plant with many potential uses. Its ability to fix nitrogen in the soil, high protein content, and medicinal properties make it a valuable crop for sustainable agriculture practices and potential future developments in medicine. As research continues, new applications for this remarkable plant may continue to emerge.

White Lupin has also been shown to have potential in phytoremediation, a process where plants are used to remove pollutants from soil and water. The plant has been studied for its ability to remove heavy metals, such as cadmium, from contaminated soils. This could make it a useful tool for cleaning up polluted sites and improving soil health.

Another potential use for White Lupin is in bioremediation, a process where plants are used to break down or degrade environmental pollutants. White Lupin has been shown to have the ability to degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are common environmental pollutants. This makes it a promising candidate for use in bioremediation efforts to clean up contaminated sites.

White Lupin is also being explored for its potential as a source of novel compounds for use in various industries, such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals. Researchers have identified several compounds in White Lupin that have potential health benefits, such as reducing cholesterol levels and improving insulin sensitivity.

In conclusion, the White Lupin is a versatile and valuable plant with many potential uses. Its ability to fix nitrogen in the soil, high protein content, and medicinal properties make it a valuable crop for sustainable agriculture practices and potential future developments in medicine. As research continues, new applications for this remarkable plant may continue to emerge, making it an important resource for a variety of industries and environmental initiatives.


Video

White Lupin filmed at Capernwray on the 26th May 2023.

 

Music credits
Amazing Plan - Distressed by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100738
Artist: http://incompetech.com/

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