Lupinus pilosus

Lupinus pilosus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Lupinus
Species: L. pilosus
Binomial name
Lupinus pilosus
L.
Synonyms
  • Lupinus varius L.

Lupinus pilosus, commonly known as blue lupine, (Hebrew: תורמוס ההרים, Arabic: ترمس برّي) is a species of flowering plant from the order of Lamiales which is endemic to Israel where it is found in Mediterranean scrubland. It has a 30–70 centimetres (12–28 in) long stem and 3–8 centimetres (1.2–3.1 in) long legume. The species blooms from February to May.[1] The species have white coloured flowers which are 1–1.5 centimetres (0.39–0.59 in) long and pods the diameter of which is 3–8 centimetres (1.2–3.1 in).[2] In Israel the Lupinus pilosus has blue flowers with white vertical spot at the middle.

Around the South Tyrolean village of Altrei (Anterivo), L. pilosus was historically grown. The seeds were roasted and mixed with malt grains and infused in boiling water to produce a coffee-like but caffeine-free hot beverage, Altreier Kaffee ("Altrei coffee"). Interesting not only from a cultural and historical but also from a botanical standpoint, since 2006 a local initiative is re-establishing L. pilosus cultivation in the Altrei region to revive this culinary specialty.

Blue Lupine in Tel Socho of the Elah Valley

References

  1. "Lupinus pilosus L.". Flowers in Israel. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  2. "Lupinus pilosus". Royal Botanic Garden. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 8/24/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.