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Lupinus albus - L.

Common Name White Lupin
Family Fabaceae or Leguminosae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards The seed of many lupin species contain bitter-tasting toxic alkaloids, though there are often sweet varieties within that species that are completely wholesome[65, 76]. Taste is a very clear indicator. These toxic alkaloids can be leeched out of the seed by soaking it overnight and discarding the soak water. It may also be necessary to change the water once during cooking. Fungal toxins also readily invade the crushed seed and can cause chronic illness[65].
Habitats Disturbed ground on acid soils[45, 50].
Range S. Europe to Asia.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (4 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Full sun
Lupinus albus White Lupin


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Lupinus albus White Lupin

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Lupinus albus is a ANNUAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in). It is in flower from June to July, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees.
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

L. sativus. L. termis.

Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Oil  Oil  Seed
Edible Uses: Coffee  Oil  Oil

Seed - cooked[2, 7, 50, 105, 132]. Used as a protein-rich vegetable or savoury dish in any of the ways that cooked beans are used, they can also be roasted or ground into a powder and mixed with cereal flours in making bread etc[183]. If the seed is bitter this is due to the presence of toxic alkaloids and the seed should be thoroughly leached by soaking it and then discarding the soak water before cooking[132]. Seeds contain 32 - 40% protein, 8 - 12% oil[160]. The roasted seeds can be used as a snack in much the same way as peanuts[183]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[4, 7]. The roasted seed is used as a coffee substitute[7, 61, 105, 183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

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Diuretic  Emmenagogue  Hypoglycaemic  Vermifuge

The seeds, taken internally, are diuretic, emmenagogue, hypoglycaemic and vermifuge[4, 7]. When bruised and soaked in water they are used as a poultice on ulcers etc[4].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Cosmetic  Fibre  Green manure  Oil  Oil

The seed contains up to 12% oil. This is used in making soap[7]. A fibre obtained from the stems is used for making cloth etc[4]. A cosmetic face-mask can be made from lupin flour, this is used to invigorate tired skin[7]. A useful spring-sown green manure crop, especially on light soils. It is deep rooting, fairly fast growing, produces a good bulk and fixes atmospheric nitrogen[7, 46, 61, 87]. Dynamic accumulator.

Special Uses

Dynamic accumulator  Nitrogen Fixer

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

An easily grown plant, succeeding in any moderately good soil. It prefers a light acid soil but tolerates adverse conditions[87]. Requires a sunny position[200]. The white lupin is sometimes cultivated, especially in S. Europe, for its edible seed[50] and also as a green manure crop[4]. There are some named varieties, many of which have bitter seeds that contain toxic alkaloids and require leaching before they are eaten but some sweet varieties have also been developed[183]. These sweet varieties are perfectly wholesome as food for humans and include the cultivar 'Kiev'[183]. There is some confusion between this species and L. nanus[1]. A deep rooting plant[87]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[200]. When removing plant remains at the end of the growing season, it is best to only remove the aerial parts of the plant, leaving the roots in the ground to decay and release their nitrogen.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water and sow in mid spring in situ[1, 200]. You may need to protect the seed from mice. Germination should take place within 2 weeks.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Lupinus albus graecus Annual1.0 0-0  LMHNDM403
Lupinus angustifoliusBlue Lupin, Narrowleaf lupineAnnual1.0 7-9  LMNM404
Lupinus arboreusTree Lupin, Yellow bush lupineShrub1.5 7-10 FLMNDM005
Lupinus hirsutus Annual0.0 0-0  LMHNM203
Lupinus littoralisSeashore LupinePerennial0.5 6-9  LMHNM203
Lupinus luteusYellow Lupin, European yellow lupineAnnual0.6 5-9  LMNM303
Lupinus mutabilisPearl Lupin, TarwiAnnual1.5 8-11  LMHNM504
Lupinus nootkatensisBlue Lupine, Nootka lupinePerennial0.7 4-8  LMHNM303
Lupinus perennisSundial LupinePerennial0.6 4-8  LMNDM313
Lupinus polyphyllusBig-Leaf Lupin, LupinePerennial1.5 5-9 MLMHNM114
Lupinus tauris Shrub0.0 0-0  LMNDM003
Lupinus termisWhite LupinAnnual1.0 0-0  LMHNM203

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Author

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Botanical References

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Links / References

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Readers comment

Boguslav Kurlovich   Tue Aug 1 2006

Lupins Geography, classification, genetic resources and breeding

Kurlovich, B.S.   Fri Aug 4 2006

Intraspecific Diversity of Lupins Lupinus albus L. (White lupin)

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