The ovary contains two and more ovules or seedbuds. The seed are predominantly small-sized, with an underdeveloped embryo and small amount of endosperm. Cotyledons are small-sized, with long caulicles. The first pair of true leaves is alternate. The stem is predominantly naked with waxen coating. Dominating is the monopodial type of branching. Leaflets are smooth, with waxen coating or slight pubescence, predominantly narrow. Pods are flat or orbicular, with two or more seeds.

Represented by frutcuilose, fruticose and herbaceous perennial forms, or less often annual ones. Plants are cross-pollinated.

2n = 36, 48, 96.

The type of subgenus: L. densiflorus Benth.

Geographic distribution: North, Central and South America, predominantly in the mining systems of the Andes and Cordillera. Some species are cultivated (L. mutabilis Sweet., L. polyphyllus Lindl.).

This subgenus includes several hundreds of species (from 100 up to 1000) requiring further analysis of their authenticity!

II. Subgen.  Lupinus. 1989, Bull. N.I. Vavilov Inst. Plant Industry 193:23. -  A. Eulupinus Aschers. et Graebn. 1907, Mitteleurop. Fl. 6,2:221, p.min.p.   -   

Old World’s lupins.

The ovary has at least four or more ovules or seedbuds. The seed are predominantly large, with the well-developed embryo, without endosperm. Cotyledons are large, with a short caulicles. The first pair of true leaves is opposite. The stem is always pubescent; dominating type of branching is sympodial. Leaflets are pubescent to different extent; they are predominantly broad, and only one species (L.angustifolius L.) has narrow leaflets. Pods are orbicular, with four and more seeds.

Represented by annual herbaceous forms. Plants are self-pollinated; some of them are predisposed to cross-pollination.

2n = 32, 36, 38, 40, 42, 50, 52.

The type of subgenus: L. albus L.

Geographic distribution: Mediterranean region and Africa. Some species are cultivated (L. albus L., L. angustifolius L., L. luteus L., etc.).

This subgenus includes 12 species:

1. L. albus L. 1753, Sp. Pl.:721.

2. L. angustifolius L. 1753, Sp. Pl.:721.

3. L. micranthus Guss. 1828, Fl. Sic. Prodr. 2:440.

4. L. luteus L. 1753, Sp. Pl.:722.

5. L. hispanicus Boiss. et Reut. 1842, Diagn. Pl. Nov. Hisp. 10.

6. L. cosentinii Guss 1828, Fl. Sic. Prodr. 2:440.

7. L. digitatus Forsk. 1775, Fl. Aegypt.:131.

8. L. princei Harms, 1901, Bot. Jahrb. 28:401.

9. L. pilosus Murr. 1774, Syst. Veg. ed 13:545.

10. L. palaestinus Boiss. 1849, Diagn. Pl. Or. Nov. 9:9.

11. L. atlanticus Gladstones, 1974, Techn. Bull. Dept. Agr. West. Austr. 26:30.

12. L. somaliensis Baker, 1895, Bull. Roy. Gard. Kew, 105:213.

Description of the Old World ‘s lupins (Subgen. Lupinus)

Key to the Mediterranean and African Species of Lupins (Gladstones, 1974,1998)

1. Seeds ± smooth.

   2. Lower flowers of inflorescence alternate.

      3. Upper lip of calyx entire; seeds ± square, compressed; flowers white to violet- blue. ...................................1. L. albus L.

      3. Upper lip of calyx deeply 2-partite; flowers normally blue.

           4. Leaflets linear; lower lip of calyx entire to slightly 3-toothed; seeds round; plant sparsely sericeous. ...2. L. angustifolins L.

           4. Leaflets short and broad; lower lip of calyx deeply 3-toothed; seeds lenticular or compressed, brownish; plant coarsely hirsute.                                                                                                                                                               ..........3. L. micranthus Guss.

   2. Flowers fully verticillate.

       5. Flowers golden yellow, scented; upper surface of leaflets villous. ............................................4. L. luteus L.

       5. Flowers cream to mauve, not scented; upper surface of leaflets ± glabrous............................5. L. hispanicus Boiss. and Reut.

1. Seeds rough; flowers subverticillate to verticillate, usually blue.

   6. Hairs on stems < or =" 1" or =" 1/3"> 1 mm; lower lip of calyx entire.

       7. Lower lip of calyx shallowly 3-toothed; tip of keep blunt, pigmented blue; seeds about 8x6x3 mm, brown or grayish with blackish                markings. ….............................................................................................................................……6. L. cosentinii Guss.

       7. Lower lip of calyx ± entire; tip of keel pointed, not pigmented blue. 8. Pods 9-12 mm broad; seeds about 7x6x3 mm, mottled reddish brown with a smooth hump overt he hilum. ….................................................................……7. L. digitatus Forsk.

            8. Pods 16-18 mm broad; seeds about 10 x 8 x 4 mm, mottled reddish brown on pale yellow. ..8. L. princei Harms

   6. Hairs on stem > 1 mm; lower lip of calyx entire.

       9. Hairs on stem 3-4 mm; pedicel > or = 1/2 length of calyx, lax.

             10. Flowers very large, deep blue (rarely pink) with a white band up the centre of the standard; leaflets softly villous; seeds 10-14                   x 9-12 x 6- 8 mm, mottled brownish red; plants erect................................................. ........9. L. pilosus Murr.

            10. Flowers pale yellow to pale pink, tinged with blue; leaflets sericeous; seeds slightly smaller than 9, mottled brown; plants                           rosetted........................................................................................................................... .....10. L. palaestinus Boiss.

   9. Hairs on stem 1-2 mm; pedicel 1/2 length of calux, rigid.

             11. Leaflets sericeous; pedicel; standard with a central white band, broadening towards the upper margin; seeds about 8-11 x 6-                    8 x 5 mm, mottled brown to pinkish brown with a smooth hump over the hilum............11. L. atlanticus Gladstones.

             11. Upper surface of leaflets glabrous; pedicel about 1/2 length of calux; rounded white spot on standard, not approaching the                        upper margin. Highlands of Somaliland, possibly Ethiopia................................. ............ 12. L. somaliensis Baker

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