(arctic lupine)
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Photo of Lupinus arcticus by Jacob Frank
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Lupinus arcticus is a beautiful blue-flowered herb in the pea family, abundant along the Park Road and occurring in well-drained floodplains, open forests, shrub tundra and alpine tundra. Plants grow up to 50 cm tall from a short caudex. Most leaves are basal,
palmately compound, with 4-9
oblong-
elliptic leaflets,
petioles at least twice as long as the leaf blade. Stem leaves are alternate. Leaves are green on both sides,
glabrous above and wooly-hairy below. Flowers are blue to purple,
bilaterally symmetric, held in tall
racemes, petals 1.5-2 cm long. The fruits are a densely hairy pod, 2-4 cm long, splitting open at maturity. Arctic lupine is associated with symbiotic nitrogen-producing bacteria (
Rhizobium) that occur in nodules in its roots, giving it an advantage in colonizing rocky, nutrient poor soils. Another lupine found primarily on the south side of park,
Lupinus nootkatensis, has short
petioles and the whole plant is densely wooly.
Lupinus arcticus is perennial and typically flowers in early to mid-summer.
The flowers of
Lupinus arcticus are bisexual (containing both
pistils and
stamens). They are pollinated by insects (typically by bees). Seed pods split open at maturity, flinging seeds out to be dispersed by water and gravity.
Other plants in the genus Lupinus are slightly toxic. Like all legumes, L. arcticus is symbiotic with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, having special nodules in their roots for the purpose. This means they are at an advantage for establishing in nutrient-poor soils, and contribute and important nutrient to the ecosystem.
Disclaimer for Known Uses.
Lupinus arcticus is endemic to northwestern North America, ranging from Oregon in the south through B.C. and Yukon to Northwest Territory and Alaska. In Alaska, L. arcticus occurs in suitable habitat across the state, except the southern coast (where is replaced by L. nootkatensis). In Denali, L. arcticus is common and widespread in the northeast quadrant of the park.
Details are shown in the Plots & Charts found at right, depicting recent Denali data.
Lupinus arcticus is typically found at mid-elevations in Denali, ranging from just below 400 m to above 1200. It is found on all aspects, but has the highest cover on southern aspects. It occurs on all slopes, except those above 28 degrees.
Details are shown in the Plots & Charts found at right. For more on how to interpret these figures, visit Understanding Data Presented.
Lupinus arcticus prefers well-drained areas, found in meadows, dry and damp slopes, gravel bars, and roadsides.
Wide-ranging; well drained to somewhat wet sites.
