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The Mojave lupine (Lupinus sparsiflorus) belongs to Fabaceae (the Pea family). It is an annual herb that is distributed in the Sonoran and Mojave deserts in the southwestern United States. This herb grows on roadsides, plains, and hillsides, and can reach 20-40 cm in height. It often forms a mixed community with "poppies" and "owlclover". The leaves are palmately compound with 5 to 9 narrow lanceolate leaflets and short hairs. From March to May, racemes of 15 to 20 cm are borne on the stem apex and bloom bluish-purple papillionaceous flowers. The flag petal has yellow spots that turn red after pollination. Also, the keel is short and bends upwards, with hair growing on the bottom edge.
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