Arctic Lupine
Arctic lupine produces seeds which are POISONOUS to humans
- Iñupiaq name: Unvailable
- Family: Fabaceae
- Scientific name: Lupinus arcticus
- Distinguishing characteristics: Bright green, palmately compound leaves (7-9 small leaflets branching from the center) with small hairs on underside. Showy flowers are blue to light purple with hairy sepals. Plant is 6-12 inches in height.
- Similar species: Lupine can look similar to Alpine sweetvetch and wild sweet pea, two other members of the Fabaceae you'll encounter on the North Slope. To tell Arctic lupine apart, look at the light purple flowers and palmately compound leaves (branching from the center). Alpine sweetvetch and wild sweet pea have pink flowers and pinnately compound leaves (branching from either side of the leaf stem).
- Habitat: Dry to damp slopes, gravel bars. Prefers well-drained soils.
- Do not harvest this plant, as it has seeds which are poisonous to humans. Arctic lupine is, however, a very important nectar source for hummingbirds and butterflies!
Photo courtesy of the GVSU Arctic Ecology Program
Photo courtesy of the GVSU Arctic Ecology Program
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Photo by Alfred Cook, Alaska Wildflowers