Lupinus angustifolius
(narrow-leaf lupin)

Preferred Scientific Name

• Lupinus angustifolius L.

Preferred Common Name

• narrow-leaf lupin

Other Scientific Names

• Lupinus canaliculatus Sweet

International Common Names

• English: blue lupine; European blue lupine; narrow-leaved lupine
• Spanish: altramuz azul; altramuz de hoja estrecha; haba loca; lupino azul
• French: lupin à feuilles étroites; lupin bleu
• Chinese: xia ye yu shan dou
• Portuguese: tremoçeiro-azul; tremoço-bravo; tremoço-de-folhas-estreitas

Local Common Names

• Czech Republic: lupina úzkolistá
• Dominican Republic: yuca
• France: lupin petit bleu
• Germany: blaue lupine; blau-lupine; schmalblättrige lupine
• Hungary: keskenylevelű csillagfürt
• Italy: lupino azzurro
• Jamaica: lupin
• Netherlands: blauwe lupine
• Sweden: blålupin

EPPO code

• LUPAN (Lupinus angustifolius)

• Domain: Eukaryota
•     Kingdom: Plantae
•         Phylum: Spermatophyta
•             Subphylum: Angiospermae
•                 Class: Dicotyledonae
•                     Order: Fabales
•                         Family: Fabaceae
•                             Subfamily: Faboideae
•                                 Genus: Lupinus
•                                     Species: Lupinus angustifolius

Lupinus is a large and diverse genus comprising about 200-500 species of annual and perennial herbs, shrubs and small trees. Lupinus species are distributed worldwide, but there is greater diversity in the New World, with over 90% of species in the genus occurring in the temperate and subtropical zones of North and South America, from Washington State, in the USA, to southern Argentina and Chile. Only 12-13 species are considered native to the Mediterranean and Africa, with some populations extending to the highlands of East African tropical areas (Ainouche and Bayer, 1999; Stevens, 2012; Australian Government, 2013). Several Lupinus species have a long history of use both as ornamental plants in gardens and as agricultural crops. L. angustifolius, L. albus, L. luteus and L. mutabilis have gained agricultural importance and are cultivated worldwide (Australian Government, 2013).

The following description is from Standley and Steyermark (1946):

L. angustifolius is an annual plant, erect, branched, slender, mostly 50 cm high or less, the stems pilose with short, mostly appressed, sometimes spreading hairs, densely leafy; leaves long-petiolate, the leaflets 5-9, linear, 2-4 cm long, 2-5 mm wide, very obtuse or rounded at the apex, glabrous above, sericeous beneath; stipules 7 mm long, linear; racemes short or elongate, few-many-flowered, short-pedunculate, the bracts small, caducous; calyx lips long and narrow, pilose; corolla bright blue, the standard 12 mm long; legume 5-7 cm long, 10-12 mm wide, hirsute, 5-6-seeded; seeds gray and brown, 7-8 mm long.

Lupinus species have an ancient history in agriculture that can be traced back more than 4000 years (Kurlovich, 2002). Domestication first occurred in the Mediterranean region and the American continent, but the breakthrough that established Lupinus species as modern agricultural crops occurred in Europe and Australia. From the 1930s to 1970s, several varieties were developed and cultivated in Australia and Germany (Australian Government, 2013).

Soil drainage

• free

Soil reaction

• acid
• alkaline
• neutral

Soil texture

• light
• medium

L. angustifolius spreads via seed that is dispersed by waterways, animals and by human activities (Australian Government, 2013).

Intentional Introduction

L. angustifolius has been widely introduced by humans outside its native distribution range, primarily for use as a forage/fodder crop (FAO, 2017).

The seeds of L. angustifolius contain alkaloids that are toxic for human and animal consumption (Australian Government, 2013; PFAF, 2017).

L. angustifolius is listed as an agricultural weed, particularly in Australia (Australian Government, 2013).

L. angustifolius is regarded as an environmental weed. It often grows as a weed of road verges, disturbed sites and secondary forests (Weeds of Australia, 2017). It is able to suppress the growth of native plant species by altering soil characteristics through its nitrogen fixing activity and allowing the spread of other non-native species (Weeds of Australia, 2017).

• Proved invasive outside its native range
• Has a broad native range
• Abundant in its native range
• Highly adaptable to different environments
• Is a habitat generalist
• Tolerates, or benefits from, cultivation, browsing pressure, mutilation, fire etc
• Pioneering in disturbed areas
• Fast growing
• Gregarious

• Altered trophic level
• Increases vulnerability to invasions
• Modification of nutrient regime
• Reduced native biodiversity
• Threat to/ loss of native species

• Competition - monopolizing resources
• Interaction with other invasive species
• Poisoning
• Rapid growth

• Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately

L. angustifolius is grown for use as human food (a pulse), animal fodder and forage, for green manure and as a soil improver and stabilizer. It is also planted as honey flora and seeds are used as a protein additive in animal feed (FAO, 2017; USDA-ARS, 2017; USDA-NRCS, 2017).