Clover lupine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clover lupine |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Lupinus
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| Species: |
tidestromii
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The Lupinus tidestromii is a special plant often called the clover lupine or Tideström's lupine. It is a type of lupine that grows only in a small part of California. You can find it along the coast, just north and south of the famous Golden Gate bridge. It lives in Sonoma, Marin, and Monterey Counties. This plant is quite rare because it only grows in the sand dunes at specific beach spots. Sadly, not much of its natural home is left. Because of this, the Lupinus tidestromii is listed as a federally endangered species.
Contents
What is the Tideström's Lupine?
This plant is a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years. It grows a stem that lies flat on the sand. This stem can be about 10 to 30 centimeters long. That's roughly the length of a school ruler!
How Does This Lupine Look?
Each leaf on the plant looks like a hand with fingers spread out. This is called a palmate leaf. It has 3 to 5 small leaflets, each about 1 or 2 centimeters long. The whole plant is covered in soft, white, woolly hairs.
Flowers and Fruits
The Lupinus tidestromii has small flowers that grow in a cluster called an inflorescence. This cluster stands upright. The flowers are usually blue or purple. They have a special patch on them that can be white, yellow, or even purplish. Each flower is just over a centimeter long. After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a fruit. This fruit is a fuzzy, hairy pod called a legume. It is about 2 or 3 centimeters long.
Why is the Tideström's Lupine Endangered?
The main reason this beautiful plant is in danger is because its home is disappearing. The sand dunes where it lives are being changed or built on.
How Has Habitat Loss Affected the Plant?
For example, when golf courses were built on the Monterey Peninsula, two places where this lupine used to grow were completely lost. This is called extirpation. It means the plant disappeared from those specific areas. At Asilomar State Beach, special boardwalks were built. These boardwalks help protect the delicate dune habitat. They stop people from accidentally stepping on and harming the plants. Protecting these areas is very important for the survival of the Tideström's lupine.
