Desert Lupine

he desert lupine is native to the Mojave, the desert in California and Nevada and New Mexico, Arizona and parts of Texas.

It does not like higher altitudes, but will grow along the roads in the desert and on slopes, and even the tops of Mesa.

It has a bright blue flower, which can be blue, purple or violet, and it is high on a small upright stems. Petals have a yellow spot, which will switch to red when the plant has been pollinated.

The upper petal is called a banner petal while the two lower them called the keel. They have hair on the bottom and curves up a little.

The bears seed pods, which when ripe will blow up, and the seeds explode everywhere and scatter on the wind.

Blue, 1/2-inch wide blue to purple flowers bloom on slender, up STALKS January through May.

The upper petal (banner) has a yellow spot the changes of reddish after pollination. The two lower petals (keel) is short and long, and are hairy on the bottom edge and curve upward to a slender tip. When mature, seed pods explode, scattering their seeds to the wind.

This flower is called an annual which means that the door completely and seeds to grow new plants.

Desert lupine will completely cover an area where it has been a rainy year, and even when it does not have the lupine will or other compensation, and they will be plentiful in the deserts of the Southwest.

Bees are drawn to the lupine, and it again depends on them to pollinate it. (www.isnature.org)