| Lupinus mexicanus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Lupinus |
| Species: | L. mexicanus |
| Binomial name | |
| Lupinus mexicanus | |
Lupinus mexicanus, also known as the Mexican lupin, is a species of lupine native to Mexico and introduced in Malawi, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. [1] Some sources say it was introduced to India, too. [2]
A 2014 paper found that flavonoid profiles of Mexican lupine seeds had a neuroprotective effects on rats. It was found that the germinated seeds had no impact on the brain neurons. [3]
Another 2014 paper about genotoxicity in Lupinus species, specifically Lupinus mexicanus and Lupinus montanus , found that both of the species showed significant genotoxic activity. It also found that the Mexican lupine had more genotoxic activity than Lupinus montanus. [4]
Its flowering period is March and April. [5] It is usually found in the altitudes of 900–1450 meters. Its habitat is damp places, usually along rivers or seasonally flooded places. [6]
Introduced in Zimbabwe as a garden ornamental, some plants escaped in October 1970. Now it is commonplace to see them on roadsides. [1]
Either an annual or short lived perennial plant, it can get up to 1 meter high. The stem is villous with very long hairs. There are 7–9 leaflets, which are oblanceolate or narrowly oblong-elliptic. The petioles are 7–16 centimeters, and the stipules are 1–3 centimeters long. There are eight calyces,[ failed verification ] which are 10–12 millimeters long and come in the colors of blue or pink. [6]