Lupinus texensis [Texas Bluebonnet]

[dancingcat]

Frary, S. C. (2022) Lupinus texensis Hook. (Fabaceae) Texas Bluebonnet.  Photographed in visible and ultraviolet light.

 

Collected in Ennis, Texas on 3 April 2022.  Voucher deposited in the Botanical Research Institute of Texas Herbarium (BRIT), S. C. Frary [119].

 

Comments:
Very fragrant. Attracts butterflies and native bumblebees. Larval host for Gray Hairstreak and Elfin butterflies.  L. texensis is one of six Lupinus species designated as the state flower of Texas.  The white “flag” or “banner” on the upper petal of the floret turns pink and then to red as it ages. Bees are attracted to the white banner and less to the red [Schaal and Leverich, 1980].  In the ultraviolet, the banner is dark throughout.

 

References:
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, University of Texas at Austin, www.wildflower.org

 

Schaal, Barbara A., and Wesley J. Leverich. “Pollination and Banner Markings in Lupinus Texensis (Leguminosae).” The Southwestern Naturalist, vol. 25, no. 2, 1980, pp. 280–82, https://doi.org/10.2307/3671260. (Accessed 7 Apr. 2022).

 

George M. Diggs Jr., Barney L. Lipscomb, Robert J. O'Kennon (1999) Shinners and Mahler's Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas. Lupinus texensis, page 672. Published by Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Fort Worth. Online in PDF format at Illustrated Flora of North Texas Online (accessed 06 April 2022).

 

Equipment:

 

[Olympus EM1mk2-broadband + Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN MFT, full inflorescence].

[Olympus EM1mk2-broadband + Olympus 60mm f/2.8 macro, banner detail in visible].

[Visible Light [f/11, ISO 200, 13”, with Kolari Vision UV/IR hotcut mirror pro 2 filter, ambient indoor light]

[Ultraviolet Light [f/11, ISO 200, 13”, with Baader U-filter, painted with Convoy S2 torch (365 nm)]

 

[Visible light:  Floret Banner Detail.  12 image in camera stack; f/2.8, 1/8", ISO 200, ambient room light with small grow lights in back]

 

[Andy Perrin]

Center flips from white to dark in UV. Cool!

[dancingcat]

Edited post this morning to show red and white banner detail.

[colinbm]

8 hours ago, Sue said:

Edited post this morning to show red and white banner detail.

Good to see, thanks.