Biddle's Lupine / Center For Plant Conservation
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Plant Profile

Biddle's Lupine (Lupinus biddlei)

The large palmately compound leaves of Lupinus biddlei stand out against other plants of the region which tend to have very small leaves. Photo Credit: J. Kierstead
  • Global Rank: T3 - Vulnerable
  • Legal Status: N/A
  • Family: Fabaceae
  • State: OR
  • Nature Serve ID: 161527
  • Lifeform: Forb/herb
  • Date Inducted in National Collection: 04/01/1990
Description:

This lupine found in eastern Oregon is a treat for the eyes. Its large, palmately-compound, hairy leaves are a vibrant green. These are set off by a tall spike of white flowers. The seeds, about the size of a lentil or slightly larger, range in color from light peach to a beautiful brick. Lupinus biddlei seems to be restricted to two distinct locations. Populations are found in two main geographic areas of eastern Oregon, which are separated by approximately 30 miles (50km). No plants are found between the two regions (Nora Taylor, pers. comm.).

Where is Biddle's Lupine (Lupinus biddlei) located in the wild?

Habitat:

In the northern part of the range, plants are found on eroded sedimentary soils in and adjacent to draws and on hillsides with mostly southern exposure. In the southern part of the range, plants are found most often on well-drained alluvial soils in flats and bottomlands, occasionally extending up the slopes. Overall, the elevations range from approximately 3450-4450 ft (1050-1360 m). Lupinus biddlei grows in an Artemisia tridentata (big sage) plant community along with Poa sandbergii, Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass), Agropyron cristatum (crested wheatgrass), and Lupinus caudatus. The region is very dry, as it receives less than 15 inches (38 cm) of precipitation per year.

Distribution:

OR: Basin and Range, Owyhee Uplands (Burns and Vale BLM Districts)

States & Provinces:

Biddle's Lupine can be found in Oregon

Which CPC Partners conserve Biddle's Lupine (Lupinus biddlei)?

  • Rae Selling Berry Seed Bank & Plant Conservation Program

    Sponsored
    Sponsors Add

    Silver Sponsor

    The Berry Botanic Garden

    Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

    Conservation Actions
    Assigned 06/09/17
    • CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

    Conservation Actions

    • 09/19/2020
      • Propagation Research

    Germination trials at BBG indicate that Lupinus biddlei readily germinates under a variety of conditions. All treatments (cold stratification for 8 weeks or no cold stratification followed by either 68F (20C) or alternating 50F/68F (10/20C) resulted in 100% germination (BBG File).

    • 09/19/2020
      • Orthodox Seed Banking

    Seeds collected from both major geographic areas stored at The Berry Botanic Garden.

    • 09/19/2020
      • Seed Collection

    Seeds collected from both major geographic areas stored at The Berry Botanic Garden.

    Nature Serve Biotics
    • 05/02/2017

    Endemic to Oregon. Because of the number of occurrences (27) and the number of plants (40,000), its ability to survive in disturbed habitat and the lack of threats, this entity was given the above rank. Taxonomic questions also plague this entity: Intermountain Flora has lumped this taxon with L. polyphyllus (a very common species).

    Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
    • 01/01/2010

    Grazing by cattle before seeds are released. Herbivory by rabbits and grasshoppers (Wright 1990). Burning and subsequent re-seeding with competitive plants (Meinke 1982). Road grading prior to seed set (Meinke 1982). Insect damage to flowers and f

    Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
    • 01/01/2010

    As of 2001: Two main geographical centers separated by about 30 or 40 miles (48-65 km), each comprised of 3-4 sites, some with multiple populations or sub-populations. Unknown numbers of individuals as little monitoring or inventorying has been done. Populations appear stable (Nora Taylor, pers. comm.). Population sizes in 1989 ranged from 3 individuals to several thousand individuals (Wright 1990).

    Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
    • 01/01/2010

    Germination trials at BBG indicate that Lupinus biddlei readily germinates under a variety of conditions. All treatments (cold stratification for 8 weeks or no cold stratification followed by either 68F (20C) or alternating 50F/68F (10/20C) resulted in 100% germination (BBG File). Status report compiled in 1990. Historical sites were visited and new sites were located (Wright 1990).

    Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
    • 01/01/2010

    Seeds collected from both major geographic areas stored at The Berry Botanic Garden. Sites on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land are grazed at various times during the year. Lupinus biddlei emerges and completes its life cycle so early in the year that it does not seem to be significantly impacted by cattle grazing (Nora Taylor, pers. comm.). Limited monitoring (Nora Taylor, pers. comm.)

    Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
    • 01/01/2010

    Determine competitive role of non-native species (Meinke 1982) Determine ecological requirements (Meinke 1982) Clarify taxonomic status. It was listed as a variety of Lupinus polyphilus in Intermountain Flora (1989). Study reproductive and pollination biology. Monitor to determine population trends (Wright 1990).

    Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
    • 01/01/2010

    Collect and store seeds from all known populations. Determine propagation and reintroduction protocols.

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    Nomenclature
    Taxon Lupinus biddlei
    Authority Henderson ex C.P. Sm.
    Family Fabaceae
    CPC Number 2696
    ITIS 516200
    USDA LUORO
    Duration Perennial
    Common Names Biddle's lupine | Oregon lupine
    Associated Scientific Names Lupinus biddlei | Lupinus amabilis | Lupinus oreganus var. oreganus
    Distribution OR: Basin and Range, Owyhee Uplands (Burns and Vale BLM Districts)
    State Rank
    State State Rank
    Oregon S3
    Ecological Relationships

    Photos

    The large palmately compound leaves of Lupinus biddlei stand out against other plants of the region which tend to have very small leaves. Photo Credit: J. Kierstead

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