Lupinus albus
White Lupin
an annual member of the Lupinus genus in the family Leguminosae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Leguminosae
- Genus
- Lupinus
- Life cycle
- annual
- Height
- 1.2 m
- Spread
- 0.25 m
- Fertility
- Bees
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The seed of many lupin species contain bitter-tasting toxic alkaloids, though there are often sweet varieties within that species that are completely wholesome[13][15]. 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[13].
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - cooked[6][14][11][2][3]. 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[5]. 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[3]. Seeds contain 32 - 40% protein, 8 - 12% oil[4]. The roasted seeds can be used as a snack in much the same way as peanuts[5]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[8][14]. The roasted seed is used as a coffee substitute[14][12][2][5].
- Product or use
- Coffee
- Product or use
- Oil
- Plant part
- Seed
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The seeds, taken internally, are diuretic, emmenagogue, hypoglycaemic and vermifuge[8][14]. When bruised and soaked in water they are used as a poultice on ulcers etc[8].
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Emmenagogue
- Product or use
- Hypoglycaemic
- Product or use
- Vermifuge
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The seed contains up to 12% oil. This is used in making soap[14]. A fibre obtained from the stems is used for making cloth etc[8]. A cosmetic face-mask can be made from lupin flour, this is used to invigorate tired skin[14]. 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[14][10][12][16].
- Product or use
- Cosmetic
- Product or use
- Fibre
- Product or use
- Oil
Environment
- Range
- S. Europe to Asia.
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
An easily grown plant, succeeding in any moderately good soil. It prefers a light acid soil but tolerates adverse conditions[16]. Requires a sunny position[7]. The white lupin is sometimes cultivated, especially in S. Europe, for its edible seed[11] and also as a green manure crop[8]. 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[5]. These sweet varieties are perfectly wholesome as food for humans and include the cultivar 'Kiev'[5]. There is some confusion between this species and L. nanus[1]. A deep rooting plant[16]. 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[7]. 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
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth.
Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987.
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Polunin. O. Flowers of Greece and the Balkans. Oxford University Press 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-19-217626-9
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394
Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291
Woodward. L. Burge. P. Green Manures. Elm Farm Research Centre. 1982-00-00