Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl.

Herbaceous perennial; stems sparsely to moderately hairy, erect, branched from base. Leaflets 8–15, usually ± glabrous above, sparsely to moderately sericeous below, narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate, acute to acuminate, 30–130 × (5)–10–30 mm; stipules oblong-lanceolate, 15–35 mm long. Infl. 15–60 cm long, many-flowered; peduncle up to 15 cm long. Lower fls alternate; upper fls subverticillate; pedicels 5–14 mm long. Calyx densely hairy; upper lip shallowly 2-toothed; lower lip slightly longer, entire. Corolla blue, purple, orange, yellow, pink or white, often of 2 colours, not or slightly scented, 12–20 mm long. Pod densely villous, 5–10-seeded, 30–50 mm long; seeds ellipsoid, smooth, dark brown and somewhat mottled, c. 2 mm long.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Sep.–Feb.