Lupinus arboreus
Sims Tree LupinErect perennial shrub to 2.5 m tall; stems much-branched, pubescent to glabrescent. Leaves palmately 6–11-foliolate; petioles to c. 3 cm long, pubescent; leaflets linear to oblanceolate, mostly 15–35 mm long, 3–10 mm wide, upper surface usually glabrescent, lower surface appressed-pubescent, apex acute or obtuse, mucronate; stipules subulate, to c. 30 mm long. Inflorescences 10–30 cm long; peduncle to c. 10 cm long; flowers mostly whorled; pedicels 6–10 mm long; bracteoles minute. Calyx 8–10 mm long, silky, upper lip virtually entire, lower lip longer, virtually entire; corolla 14–18 mm long, usually bright yellow, sometimes lilac, blue or violet. Pod 50–80 mm long, 8–12 mm wide, sessile, appressed-pubescent; seeds 8–12, obloid, 4–6 mm long, dark brown, obscurely mottled, with a pair of pale spots. Flowers spring and summer.
GipP, EGL, HNF, OtR, VAlp. Also naturalised Tas., New Zealand, UK, Ireland, Canada, Chile. Native to western USA. In Victoria reported as naturalised in the Falls Creek area where apparently used for soil stabilization, on a disturbed roadside near Carlisle River, and in coastal scrubs near Lakes Entrance and Cape Patterson.
Some Victorian collections with longer than usual leaflets may be cultivated hybrids involving L. arboreus.
Jeanes, J.A. (1996). Fabaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, pp. 663–829. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning