Lupinus pusillus, the rusty lupine or dwarf lupine, is an annual plant in the legume family (fabaceae) found in the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region of the southwestern United States(California),[1] and north to Montana.
It is an annual plant growing up to 9inches tall. "Pusillus is for the small size of the plant.[1]
Leaves are compound palmate with 3-9 NaNinchestoNaNinchesin (toin) long inversely lance- shaped leaflets.[1]
Plant stems and leaf stems (petioles) have long spreading hairs.[1]
It blooms from April to June.[1]
Flowers are in stalks of 4-38 and bluish to purple or bicolored, with a yellow spot on the upper petal.[1]
Seedpods are nearly oval and have constrictions separating the seeds.[1]
It can be found in desert shrubland and pinyon juniper woodland communities, from as far north as Washington, to California, and throughout the southwest.[1]
When growing in reddish sand, the blue flowers make a striking contrast with the sun at a low angle.[1]
It is pollinated by bees.[1]