Lupine, Narrow-leaved; Lupinus benthamii

Mid Bloomer.  Stems 8" to 28” tall, bright blue flowers, leaflets very narrow, flowers sometimes whorled.  Also called Spider Lupine. Notes: Pea family.  The Narrow-leaved Lupine has the typical blue flower with the white banner splotch that reddens with age, but its leaves are unique: the silvery leaflets resemble a spider’s legs, are long, widely separated and very narrow: hence: Spider Lupine.  Stems and sepals have conspicuous scattered long hairs. George Bentham was a 19th century English botanist.  There are many species in the lupine genus; the USDA lists 165 Species and 342 accepted taxa overall. Click on species name below to go to USDA for this species. Kingdom Plantae -- Plants     Subkingdom Tracheobionta -- Vascular plants         Superdivision Spermatophyta -- Seed plants             Division Magnoliophyta -- Flowering plants                 Class Magnoliopsida -- Dicotyledons                     Subclass Rosidae                         Order Fabales                             Family Fabaceae -- Pea family                                 Genus Lupinus L. -- lupine                                     Species Lupinus benthamii Heller -- spider lupine Contains 2 Varieties and 2 accepted taxa overall

Lupine, Narrow-leaved (Lupinus benthamii)

Lupine, Narrow-leaved (Lupinus benthamii), looking up from Buttermilk Bend Trail

Lupine, Narrow-leaved (Lupinus benthamii), looking down from trail toward river

Lupine, Narrow-leaved (Lupinus benthamii) -- intermingled with tufted poppies