Yukon lupine facts for kids

The Yukon lupine, also known as Lupinus kuschei, is a beautiful flowering plant. You can find this plant growing in the wild in Alaska and parts of Western Canada. It belongs to the Fabales order, which includes many well-known plants like peas and beans.

What is the Yukon Lupine?

The Yukon lupine is a type of plant that grows from a seed. It produces lovely flowers, usually in shades of blue or purple. This plant is a native species to the cold regions of North America. It is well-adapted to its environment.

How Does the Yukon Lupine Look?

The Yukon lupine has stems that can grow to be about 15 to 50 centimeters tall. That's roughly the length of a school ruler! Its leaves are special. Each leaf has 5 to 9 smaller parts called leaflets. These leaflets are shaped like an oval. They are about 1.5 to 5 centimeters long.

Flowers and Fruits

The flowers of the Yukon lupine grow in a cluster called a raceme. These clusters can be 3 to 10 centimeters long. Each flower has a two-lipped calyx, which is like a protective cup around the petals. The petals themselves, called the corolla, are 10 to 13 millimeters long. They are often bright blue or purple. After the flowers bloom, the plant produces fruits. These fruits are pods, similar to pea pods. They are about 2 to 3 centimeters long. Inside these pods are the plant's seeds, which are 4 to 6 millimeters long.