Natural History Story

http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/574982

When I came across this Drew's Silky Lupine, I was particularly fascinated by how different it was than the plants surrounding it. I first assumed that it wasn't native to the area because of its silky, greyish-green thin leaves that contrasted the green, broad (sometimes spiked) leaves around it. However, after it was identified, I found that it is actually a California native plant that is common to both California and Oregon (Level 5 - Secure, so not endangered neither nationally nor globally). It is found in the Sierra Nevada, but also in coastal ranges in Northern California and mountainous forests of Southern Oregon -- so it is adapted to high elevation, dry climate, and mountainous habitat. Its leaves are silky during pubescence, and I'm assuming the plant that I found was very early in its growth because of its size and the fact that it showed no sign of flowering yet.

Surprisingly, Drew's Silky Lupine is part of the pea family, and grows pods of 2 to 4 centimeters containing 3 to 6 seeds.

I tried to find any information on EOL, Wikipedia, Google Books, and Google Scholar on why it was called Drew's Silky Lupine, but had no luck finding any history on the plant -- only matter-of-fact listings of its characteristics.

After searching JSTOR, though, I did find an article in a bulletin published in June 1889 by the Torrey Botanical Club called "The Botany of Humboldt County, California," by E.R. Drew. Under "New Species and Varieties," he lists "Lupinus Adsurgens" which is what we now call Drew's Silky Lupine, and also lists its characteristics. So, by finding this article, I realized that the plant was discovered on July 10th, 1888 in "ponds at Jarnigan's, on Mad River," in Humboldt County, CA by E.R. Drew, and this is why we have the name Drew's Silky Lupine.

Posted on March 20, 2014 02:38 AM by rtdecca