Wednesday's Wildflower: Scrub Lupine
McFarlin’s Lupine/Scrub Lupine, Lupinus westianus var. aridorum / Lupinus aridorium Submitted by Tom Palmer, Hernando Chapter Scrub Lupine, photo by Tom Palmer This pink-flowered endemic wildflower blooms in spring in a decreasing number of locations on the Winter Haven and Mt. Dora ridges in Polk and Orange counties. It is a federally listed endangered species, and unlike many scrub species, it is unknown within the Lake Wales Ridge. Although this plant was first proposed to be considered a separate species by James Brigham McFarlin in the 1930s, it was not formally described until 1982 by John Beckner. It was later reclassified as a variety of Lupinus westianus by Duane Isley, but a current genetic evaluation of Florida lupines reportedly may result in changes in the nomenclature that may restore it to full species status. Scrub lupines are easily identified by pink blossoms as well as the absence of stipules, which will L. diffusus...