The colors below indicate the kind of documentation available for this species
in the California counties where it occurs.
Bush Lupine Lupinus albifrons (Fabaceae)
Lupines are resourceful plants that grow in rocky rubble and on sand dunes where their root system may reach a depth of 20 feet. More importantly, lupines can obtain nitrogen from the atmosphere with the help of Rhizobium, a bacterium which grows in nodular swellings on the roots. These bacteria can convert atmospheric nitrogen into organic compounds in a process called nitrogen fixation. This symbiotic relationship allows the lupine to grow in nutrient poor soils. In return the lupine serves as a host that supplies energy-rich carbon compounds to the bacteria.
DISTRIBUTION: Open sandy or rocky habitats throughout the Calif. Floristic Province; < 2000 m.
