Common Lupines are starting to arrive like an invading army of beautiful troops. Pronounced LEW-pin, the wild legume derives its name from the Latin word “Lupinus,” meaning “wolfish” or “of the wolf.” That’s because Lupines (Lupinus polyphyllus) ravenously consume soil nutrients, usually to the detriment of other plants.
Lupines also are known more peacefully as Quaker Bonnet Plants, due to the shape of their flower pods. Inside those pods are beans that are edible after brining to remove toxins.
Maine’s native Lupines (Lupinus perennis L.) apparently have been extirpated or are extremely rare. The hordes that we see in our fields and along our roads were originally imported from western states and Europe. Much of the credit for their existence goes to Hilda Edwards, “The Lupine Lady,” who apparently was to these plants what Johnny Appleseed was to apples.
Hilda reportedly scattered Lupine seeds fanatically in Maine – including throwing seeds out of moving cars – during her extensive summer residencies here during the early7 20th Century. A popular and award-winning children’s fictional book called Miss Rumphius was based on her seed-sowing.
(Brooklin, Maine)