Lupinus pilosus, commonly known as blue lupine, (Hebrew: תורמוס ההרים, Arabic: ترمس برّي) is a species of flowering plant that is edible from the family Fabaceae that grows in Mediterranean scrubland.

Lupinus pilosus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Lupinus
Species:
L. pilosus
Binomial name
Lupinus pilosus
Synonyms
  • Lupinus varius L.

Description

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The stem is 30–70 centimetres (12–28 in) long.[2] Blooming from February to May,[2] the species has white-coloured flowers which are 1–1.5 cm (3858 in) long and pods 3–8 cm (1–3 in) in diameter.[3] The legume is 3–8 cm long.[2] In Israeli farms, the Lupinus pilosus has blue flowers with white vertical spot at the middle.

Culinary uses

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Around the South Tyrolean village of Altrei (Anterivo), L. pilosus was historically grown. The seeds were roasted and mixed with malt grains and infused in boiling water to produce a coffee-like but caffeine-free hot beverage, Altreier Kaffee ("Altrei coffee"). Interesting not only from a cultural and historical but also from a botanical standpoint, since 2006 a local initiative is reestablishing L. pilosus cultivation in the Altrei region to revive this culinary specialty.[citation needed]

In the geographical region of Palestine, the plant is numbered among the few, wild edible plants, but the seeds still require leaching in boiling water several times (with replacement of the water) for the seeds to become palatable.[4] The seeds are then roasted in a skillet with a dash of water, salted, and eaten.[4] Some have it as their practice to pulverize the prepared seeds and to mix them with wheat or sorghum flour for bread.[4]

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References

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  1. ^ Planchuelo, A.M. (2020). "Lupinus pilosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T19379279A100333517. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T19379279A100333517.en. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Lupinus pilosus L." Flowers in Israel. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  3. ^ "Lupinus pilosus". Royal Botanic Garden. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c Dalman, Gustaf (2020). Nadia Abdulhadi-Sukhtian (ed.). Work and Customs in Palestine, volume II. Vol. 2 (Agriculture). Translated by Robert Schick. Ramallah: Dar Al Nasher. p. 321. ISBN 978-9950-385-84-9.
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