Plantae: Magnoliophyta: Magnoliopsida: Fabales: Fabaceae: Lupinus: Lupinus sericeus (Pursh)

As attractive and colourful as this pea family member may be, the silky lupine holds its own dark secrets. Native to Manitoba and British Columbia in Western Canada, this stunning plant has been discovered to produce toxic alkaloids known to cause adverse consequences and even death to its consumers, which are typically domesticated livestock such as sheep, goats and cattle. Continue reading “51/150: A pea, or not a pea?” →