Lupinus littoralis
| Lupinus littoralis | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 7 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-7.3 |
| Height: | 1' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Mid Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Nitrogen Fixer | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Lupinus littoralis (common name: seashore lupine)
Propagation: Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water and then sow in early spring in a greenhouse[1][2]. Germination should take place within a couple of weeks. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
It should also be possible to sow the seed in situ in mid spring. It might be necessary to protect the sowing from mice.
Division in March. Difficult.
Basal cuttings, April in a cold frame. Harvest the shoots when they are about 10cm long with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.
Cultivation: An easily grown plant, succeeding in any moderately good soil in a sunny position[1][2]. It strongly dislikes excessive winter wet[1]. Requires an acid to neutral soil[2]. Succeeds in poor soils[3].
Plants dislike root disturbance.
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[2].
Range: Western N. America - British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Sandy seashores[4].
Edibility: Root - raw or cooked[5]. The root can be dried and roasted[6][7][8][9]. A sweet flavour, almost like sugar[4]. The tough and fibrous roots are rich in starch[6]. The root is roasted and then pounded to loosen the edible fibres from the stem[10]. The roasted, dried and powdered root can be stored for winter use[4]. The roots can be up to 1 metre long[4]. Lupine roots are best not eaten raw since they contain alkaloids that could be poisonous - North American Indians would fall into a drunken sleep if they ate them raw, though they are perfectly safe when cooked[4].
Usage: A good green manure plant for poor soils[8]. It is quite fast growing and fixes atmospheric nitrogen.
Pollinators: Bees
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates strong winds
Seed Ripens: Mid Summer-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: The seed of many lupin species contain bitter-tasting toxic alkaloids, though there are often sweet varieties within that species that are completely wholesome[11][12]. Taste is a very clear indicator. These toxic alkaloids can be leeched out of the seed
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Hitchcock, Leo. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press, 1955.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Turner, Nancy. Food Plants of Coastal First Peoples. UBC Press Vancouver, 1995.
- ↑ Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Allan, Harry. Flora of New Zealand. Government Printer Publications, 1961.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Yanovsky, Elias. Food Plants of the North American Indians Publication 237. US Department of Agriculture.
- ↑ Gunther, Erna. Ethnobotany of Western Washington. University of Washington Press, 1981.
- ↑ Frohne, Dietrich and Hans Pfänder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Timber Press, 1984.
- ↑ Cooper, Marion. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. The Stationery Office, 1984.