Scrub lupine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scrub lupine |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Lupinus
|
| Species: |
aridorum
|
The Lupinus aridorum, also known as the scrub lupine, is a very rare plant found only in Florida, USA. In 2003, there were only 10 known groups of these plants left. Fewer than 6,000 individual plants were counted. This special plant is in danger because its home, called its habitat, is being lost or damaged. The scrub lupine is officially listed as an endangered species in the United States.
It was first found in 1900, but scientists didn't officially describe it as a new species until 1982. Sometimes, people think it's just a type of another plant called Lupinus westianus.
Contents
What Does the Scrub Lupine Look Like?
The scrub lupine is a plant that can live for two years (biennial) or many years (perennial). It can grow up to about one meter (or three feet) tall.
Leaves and Stems
Its leaves are shaped like an oval with pointy ends. Unlike most other lupine plants, its leaves are not shaped like a hand with fingers. Each leaf can be up to 7 centimeters (about 3 inches) long and 4 centimeters (about 1.5 inches) wide. They grow on a long stem called a petiole. The whole plant is covered in soft, silvery hairs, which makes it look a bit shiny.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers grow in a tall, spike-like cluster called an inflorescence. This cluster can be up to 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) long and stands on a straight stalk up to 13 centimeters (about 5 inches) tall. Each flower looks like a small pea and is about 1 to 2 centimeters (less than an inch) long. They are pale pink with a darker spot on the top petal. After the flowers, the plant grows a hairy pod, about 2 centimeters (less than an inch) long, which holds the seeds. This pod is called a legume. The whole plant can spread out to be as wide as seven feet!
It's easy to spot the scrub lupine where it grows. It's the only lupine in its habitat that stands upright and has pink flowers.
Where Does the Scrub Lupine Live?
This plant grows in a special type of forest in Central Florida called the Florida scrub. It likes to grow in sandy soil that drains water well. This sand is usually white, but sometimes it can be yellow.
Its Neighbors in the Scrub
The scrub lupine often grows among sand pines. Other trees that might be nearby include slash pine and turkey oak. Below these taller trees, you can find smaller Shrubs like Florida rosemary, scrub live oak, and rusty lyonia.
Why Is the Scrub Lupine in Danger?
The Florida scrub habitat is very special and is also in great danger. The scrub lupine is mostly found in areas that are already damaged or are about to be destroyed for new buildings and roads.
Losing Its Home
The only known groups of scrub lupine are in Orange and Polk Counties. These areas are growing very fast, which means a lot of natural land is being lost. When the scrub lupine was first listed as endangered, most of the plants were on private land. This meant they couldn't be easily protected. Since 2003, it's thought that three or four of the ten known groups of plants have completely disappeared.
Luckily, some places are now protected. At least one group of plants is safe inside the Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge. This is the only place where the scrub lupine is guaranteed to be safe from new buildings for a long time.
The Problem with Fire
One of the biggest threats to the scrub lupine is the loss of its home to new buildings. But another big problem is how the remaining habitat is managed. The Florida scrub is an ecosystem that needs regular wildfires to stay healthy. These fires clear out old plants and make open, sunny spots for plants like the lupine to grow.
However, people often stop fires from happening to protect homes and other buildings. When fires are stopped, the scrub lands become overgrown with too many plants. This means the scrub lupine, which needs open, sunny spots, gets covered up and doesn't get enough sunlight. Most of the places where the lupine lives are now damaged because they haven't had fires or had old plants removed.
Other Threats
The scrub lupine can also get sick from a disease called wilt. This disease is caused by a tiny living thing called a bacterium named Xylella fastidiosa.
Helping the Scrub Lupine Survive
There's a special project happening in Polk and Orange counties to help the scrub lupine. This project involves planting young lupine plants that were grown at a special nursery. The first planting happened in December 2008 at a place called Lake Blue Scrub. More plantings have happened at three other locations since then.
The people working on this project hope that these new plants will grow and make enough seeds. They hope these seeds will then sprout and create a strong, wild group of scrub lupines that can survive on their own. It will take several years to see if their efforts are successful.
The scrub lupine is sometimes called McFarlin's Lupine. This name honors James Brigham McFarlin, a botanist who studied plants in the 1930s. He was one of the first people to suggest that this plant was a unique species.
