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Lupinus albus
Also called White Lupine, European White Lupin, Mediterranean White Lupin, Field Lupin, Fig Bean, Wolf Bean
White lupin is an annual legume native to the northeastern Mediterranean, grown as a pulse crop for its high-protein seeds. It is a species, not a genus or family entry; it is grown as a field crop rather than a common houseplant.
Lupinus albus, commonly known as the white lupin, is a species of the genus Lupinus in the family Fabaceae native to the northeastern Mediterranean region. It is also a traditional pulse cultivated across the Mediterranean region and elsewhere.
Since ancient times, white lupin has been widespread in the Mediterranean region and in the Middle East due to its high tolerance for acidic soils and its soil-restoration abilities. It tolerates a soil acidity up to pH = 6.5, while alkaline or organic soils are not suitable for growth. The soil must be well drained and loose because lupin is subject to root asphyxia. White lupin flourishes in the same climate zones as maize, although lupin, except at the beginning of the growing season, requires little water thanks to its long tap root.
The chemical composition of lupin seeds depends on the cultivation region except for the protein content which is independent from environmental conditions. White lupin seeds contain a high amount of protein. The net protein utilisation is slightly lower than that of animal protein. The fats have a 2:1 ratio of omega-6 (w-6) to omega-3 (w-3), whereby oleic acid (w-9) accounts for about 50% of the fat. The carbohydrates found in the seeds are mainly soluble and insoluble fibre and the starch content is very low. Therefore, lupin seeds have a low glycaemic index. The main macroelements found in white lupin seeds are K, Mn, and Mg, and the prevailing microelements are Ca, Fe, and Na.
Silver lupine · Lupinus anatolicus · Yellow bush lupine · Miniature lupine · European yellow lupine · Chick Lupine · Tarwi · Nootka lupine · Bigleaf lupine · Texas bluebonnet · Hollowleaf annual lupine · Texas lupine
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Lupinus albus by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
