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Fabaceae Family
Lupinus is the Latin name for this plant genus and perennis is from the Latin for "continuing through the years".
Grows up to 2 feet with blue to violet flowers blossoming from June through August. Locally common to open, sandy prairies. Found mostly in the northeastern Tallgrass Region.
The Karner Blue butterfly, a federally listed endangered species depends upon L. perennis as a larval food source.
Native Americans brewed a leaf tea and drank it cold to treat nausea and internal hemorrhaging. They also used it as a fodder for horses to fatten them and make them "spirted and full of fire".
Seeds are poisonous; some Lupinus species are poisonous, some are not. Even botanists have a difficult time telling the difference between toxic and non-toxic species.
