About Lupinus excubitus M.E.Jones
Lupinus excubitus M.E.Jones is a small shrub with gray-green foliage. Its fan-shaped leaves grow along the stem and may also be clustered at the base. All leaves are generally covered in silvery hairs, and each leaf is made up of 7 to 10 narrow leaflets that measure between 5 and 50 millimetres (0.2 to 2.0 inches) long. Its inflorescence is a raceme: a tall stalk holding rich purple flowers, each of which has a bright yellow spot. Occasional variant individuals of this species produce white flowers instead. The fruit is a silky-textured legume pod that can reach up to 5 centimetres (2.0 inches) in length, and it contains mottled brown seeds. There are several named botanical variants of this species: Lupinus excubitus var. austromontanus, common name southern mountain lupine; Lupinus excubitus var. excubitus, common names grape soda lupine and Inyo bush lupine; Lupinus excubitus var. hallii, common name Hall's bush lupine; Lupinus excubitus var. johnstonii, common name interior bush lupine; Lupinus excubitus var. medius, common names Mountain Springs bush lupine and Colorado bush lupine.
