Lupinus arcticus
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Also known as: Arctic tundra lupine Habitat: Moist tundra, grassy alpine meadows, woodland in subalpine. Interest: Perennial herbaceous plants with purple-blue pea-like flowers; on several stems; up to 50 cm tall. In 1967, seeds of the arctic lupine, estimated to be at least 10,000 years old, were found in lemming burrows buried in permafrost silt in an area that was not glaciated, in central Yukon. The seeds germinated in the laboratory and grew into normal, healthy plants (reference). The common name lupine is derived from the Latin name lupinus for lupines. The word lupinus is based on the Latin word for wolf: lupus. Some lore suggests that lupines destroyed the fertility of the soil. In fact, lupines take nitrogen from the air and fix it in the soil, thus improving the state of soil. The species name arcticus relates to the occurrence of the species in northern regions.
Location: Sugarloaf Mountain,
Carcross, Yukon. |
Back to Yukon Wildflower Index
For more
information email: ajfyon@vianet.ca
URL: http://www.ontariowildflower.com/yukon_alpine_arctic_lupine_mt_montana.htm
© 2008 Andy
Fyon
Sudbury, Ontario
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Page Created By: |
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Date last modified: |
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Andy Fyon |
March 15, 2008 |
