Silky Lupine

http://plants,usda,gov/ eyespot, The seed pod is somewhat flattened and bears 2-5 seeds (Cronquist and others, 1989; Pratt and others 2002), The genus Lupinus has over 150 species in North and South America and the morphological uniformity of the flower and pod and the lack of genetic barriers to interbreeding contribute to the difficulty of taxonomic classification (Cronquist, 1989), There is much disagreement concerning recognized subspecies of silky lupine (Matthews, 1993), The PLANTS database recognizes three subspecies, ssp, huffmanii, ssp, marianus, and ssp, sericeus, Subspecies marianus has leaflets with sparse pubescence to glabrous on the upper surface and is found mostly in southern Utah,

Subspecies

sericeus has leaflets that are uniformly puberulent to pilose on the upper surface and is widely distributed (Welsh, 1978). No published descriptive information on the taxonomy of ssp. huffmanii could be found. Distribution: Silky lupine is found in Manitoba and British Columbia south into Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado Arizona, and New Mexico. It is also found in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, and Utah. The subspecies huffmanii is found in Utah and Arizona and ssp. marianus is localized to Utah. The subspecies sericeus has the same distribution as L. sericeus. For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site. Habitat: Silky lupine is found in grasslands, sagebrush, mountain brush plant communities and in aspen and coniferous forests (Matthews, 1993). Silky lupine is commonly found in association with sedges (Carex spp.), prairie junegrass (Koeleria cristata), Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis), Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda), and bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata). It is also found with Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii), ninebark (Physocarpus malvaceus), serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.), mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus spp.), arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata), and western yarrow (Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis) (Matthews, 1993).

Adaptation

Silky lupine is adapted to a broad range of soil textures but found most commonly on coarse textured and well drained, non-saline soils. It is found in areas receiving 10-18+ inches (254-457+ mm) of annual precipitation and at elevations ranging from 820 feet (250 m) in the Columbia Basin of Washington to 10,000 feet (3,048 m) in Utah. It prefers full sun but will tolerate partial shade. It grows in soils with pH 7-7.5 (PLANTS Database).

Establishment

In western Montana plant growth begins in early May and flowering occurs in June and July. Seeds disseminate in August (Matthews, 1993). The seed coat of silky lupine is hard, causing a physical dormancy. The appearance of seedlings after forest fires is indicative of a physical dormancy that is broken by high temperatures (Hosokawa and others, 2004). Monsen and others (2004) report that silky lupine establishes well when dormant seeded on disturbed sites by drilling to a depth of ¼ inch or by broadcasting. Full plant development may be slow with flowering not occurring for 3-5 years.

Management

Sheep are frequently poisoned by feeding on lupine. Signs of poisoned sheep include nervousness, excessive salivation, lethargy, difficulty breathing, convulsions, coma, and death. Poisoning usually occurs when hungry animals are allowed to graze lupine. Cattle grazing lupine between the 40th and 100th days of gestation often give birth to calves with crooked legs and other congenital deformities. Consumed hay containing lupine has also caused death of sheep and cattle. The amount of lupine that will kill an animal varies with the stage of plant growth. Sheep consuming desirable forage may not be affected by occasionally eating a small amount of lupine (0.04 pound per day), but will develop clinical signs of poisoning if the same amount is consumed for 3-4 days. Cattle may be poisoned by consuming 1-12 pounds of lupine without other forage (Panter and others, 2011). Poisoning can be reduced by keeping hungry animals away from lupines during the early growth stage, in late summer when the plant is in the highly toxic seed stage, and from dense stands at all times. Keeping cows away from lupine during the 40th to 100th days of gestation will prevent most deformities. There is no known treatment for lupine poisoning (Panter and others, 2011).

Pests and Potential Problems

Greenhouse grown plants are susceptible to root rot and fungus attack (Hosokawa and others, 2004). The authors have observed natural stands of silky lupine that have been consumed by Mormon crickets.

Environmental Concerns

Concerns

Concerns

Silky lupine is a native plant that may have value for restoration of disturbed areas. However, if livestock grazing is a major use in the area, the toxic effects of the plant to livestock should be taken under consideration when planning plant restoration components or seed mixes.

Control

Silky lupine may be controlled by herbicides. 2,4-D LV ester applied at 2 .0 lb. acid equivalent/acre (ae/ac) at the early bud stage; metsulfuron 0.9 oz ae/ ac applied to actively growing plants; or picloram applied at 0.25-0.5 ae/ac to actively growing plants are recommended (Pacific Northwest Weed Management Handbook). Please contact your local agricultural extension specialist or county weed specialist to learn what works best in your area and how to use it safely. Always read and follow label and safety instructions for each control method. Trade names and control measures appear in this document only to provide specific information. USDA NRCS does not guarantee or warranty the products and control methods named, and other products may be equally effective.

Seed and Plant Production

Plant Production

Plant Production

Seeds are collected by hand when seeds are tan to gray colored at maturity. Because seeds dehisce forcefully at maturity, pods are cut from field plants just as they begin to dry and placed into paper bags for transport. Pods are then spread out to dry and covered with a fine mesh cloth. When seeds are mature and dry, material is processed to remove pods and other inert matter. Because of the hard seed coat, seed must be treated to break dormancy. Seed is placed in a brief 5-10 second hot water bath and then immediately transferred to cold water. Once seed is cooled, it is wrapped in moist paper towels and placed into refrigeration at 3°C (36°F) for 30 day stratification. Imbibed seeds should be inoculated with Rhizobium specific to lupine. Seed is then placed into growing media and lightly covered. Greenhouse temperatures are maintained at 20-25°C (68-78°F) during the day and 16-18°C (60-66°F) at night. Seeds germinate uniformly in 8 days and time to first true leaf stage is 7-15 days. Length of establishment phase is 12 weeks after which plants should be hardened off and transplanted. Careful attention must be paid to prevent damage to the taproot and it is difficult to transplant. It is best to pre-treat the seed and sow directly on the planting site (Hosokawa and others, 2004). Reported seed weights for silky lupine range from 12,873 seeds per pound (Hosokawa and others, 2004) to 24,550 seeds per pound (PLANTS database). There are no published reports of field production of silky lupine seed. Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) There are no cultivars, improved, or selected materials of silky lupine. Common wildland collected seed is available from commercial sources (Native Seed Network).

References

Cronquist, A., Holmgren, A. Holmgren N., Reveal, J., Holmgren, P. 1989. Fabales. Intermountain Flora. Vascular Plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A. Volume Three. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York. 279 p. Hosokawa, J., Wick, D., Luna, T. 2004.

Propagation

protocol for production of container Lupinus sericeus Pursh. Plants (172 ml conetainers); USDI NPS – Glacier National Park, West Glacier, Montana. University of Idaho, College of Natural Resources, forest Research Nursery. Native Plant Network. http://www.nativeplantnetwork.org (Accessed April 17, 2012). Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. [Online]. http://www.wildflower.org (Accessed April 17, 2012). Matthews, R. 1993. Lupinus sericeus. In:

Fire Effects

Information System. [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory. http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants (Accessed April 17, 2012). Monsen, S., Stevens, R., Shaw, N. comps. 2004. Restoring Western Ranges and Wildlands. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-136-vol-2. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station. p 295-698 plus index. Native American Ethnobotany. A Database of Foods, Drugs, Dyes and Fibers of Native American Peoples Derived from Plants. University of Michigan, College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters http://herb.umd.umich.edu/ (Accessed April 17, 2012) Native Seed Network. http://www.nativeseednetwork.org (Accessed April 23, 2012) Pacific Northwest Weed Management Handbook. Lupine Species (Lupinus spp). http://pnwhandbooks.org (Accessed April 23, 2012) Panter, K., Ralphs, M., Pfister, J., Gardner, D., Stegelmeier, B., Lee, S., Welch, K., Green, B., Davis, T., Cook, D. 2011. Plants Poisonous to Livestock in the Western States. United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. Agriculture Information Bulletin Number 415. 120 p. PLANTS Database. Lupinus sericeus. [Online]. http://plants.usda.gov. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. (Accessed April 17, 2012). Pratt, M., Bowns, J., Banner, R., Rasmussen, A., 2002. Lupine. In: Range Plants of Utah, [Online]. Utah State University, USU Extension http://extension.usu.edu/range/ (Accessed April 19, 2012) Tracy, B. and McNaughton, S. 1997. Elk Grazing and Vegetation Response Following a Late Season Fire in Yellowstone National Park. Plant Ecology v. 130(2). p 111-119. Welsh, S. 1978. Utah Flora: Fabacease (Leguminosae). The Great Basin Naturalist. V. 38 No. 3. Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. p 225-363. Prepared By: Loren St. John, USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Aberdeen, ID Derek Tilley, USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Aberdeen, ID Citation St. John, L. and D. Tilley. 2012. Plant Guide for silky lupine (Lupinus sericeus). USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Aberdeen Plant Materials Center. Aberdeen, Idaho 83210. Published May, 2012 Edited: 23Apr2012 ls; 24Apr2012djt; 26Apr2012gm; 18May2012jab For more information about this and other plants, please contact your local NRCS field office or

Plant Traits

Growth Requirements

Temperature, Minimum (°F)	-28
Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils	Yes
Adapted to Fine Textured Soils	No
Adapted to Medium Textured Soils	Yes
Anaerobic Tolerance	None
CaCO3 Tolerance	Medium
Cold Stratification Required	No
Drought Tolerance	High
Fertility Requirement	Low
Fire Tolerance	Medium
Frost Free Days, Minimum	200
Hedge Tolerance	High
Moisture Use	Low
pH, Maximum	7.5
pH, Minimum	7.0
Planting Density per Acre, Maxim	2700
Planting Density per Acre, Minim	700
Precipitation, Maximum	11
Precipitation, Minimum	5
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)	6
Salinity Tolerance	None
Shade Tolerance	Intolerant

Morphology/Physiology

After Harvest Regrowth Rate	Rapid
Toxicity	Severe
Resprout Ability	No
Shape and Orientation	Erect
Active Growth Period	Spring and Summer
Bloat	None
C:N Ratio	Low
Coppice Potential	No
Fall Conspicuous	No
Fire Resistant	No
Flower Color	Blue
Flower Conspicuous	Yes
Foliage Color	Green
Foliage Porosity Summer	Porous
Foliage Porosity Winter	Porous
Fruit/Seed Color	Brown
Nitrogen Fixation	Low
Low Growing Grass	No
Lifespan	Short
Leaf Retention	No
Known Allelopath	No
Height, Mature (feet)	6.0
Growth Rate	Rapid
Growth Form	Multiple Stem
Fruit/Seed Conspicuous	Yes
Foliage Texture	Fine

Reproduction

Vegetative Spread Rate	None
Small Grain	No
Seedling Vigor	High
Seed Spread Rate	Rapid
Fruit/Seed Period End	Fall
Seed per Pound	24550
Propagated by Tubers	No
Propagated by Sprigs	No
Propagated by Sod	No
Propagated by Seed	Yes
Propagated by Corm	No
Propagated by Container	Yes
Propagated by Bulb	No
Propagated by Bare Root	No
Fruit/Seed Persistence	No
Fruit/Seed Period Begin	Spring
Fruit/Seed Abundance	Medium
Commercial Availability	No Known Source
Bloom Period	Early Summer
Propagated by Cuttings	No

Suitability/Use

Veneer Product	No
Pulpwood Product	No
Protein Potential	Medium
Post Product	No
Palatable Human	No
Palatable Graze Animal	Medium
Palatable Browse Animal	Medium
Nursery Stock Product	Yes
Naval Store Product	No
Lumber Product	No
Fodder Product	No
Christmas Tree Product	No
Berry/Nut/Seed Product	No

Silky Lupine