Flower Facts about the Lupine (Lupinus):

• Other common names: bluebonnets, quaker bonnets
• The name lupin comes from the Latin word, lupinus to mean “of or belonging to a wolf” because the plant has a tendency to ravage the land it grows on.
• Lupine bean pods are cultivated for food. They are commonly sold in a brine in North and South America; soaking the beans in the salt water makes them edible.
• Lupini dishes are common in Mediterranean countries like Portugual, Egypt and Italy.
• Blue lupine, white lupine and yellow lupine are widely cultivated for livestock and poultry feed. Though, bitter lupines found in the wild contain toxic alkaloids and are poisonous to livestock and small children.
• Lupine seeds is a good source of essential amino acids and is a becoming a popular substitute for soy. But people with peanut allergies should avoid lupine because those with peanut allergies also tested positive to lupine allergies.