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Texas Bluebonnets
The Texas Bluebonnet is the state flower of Texas. It is
part of the lupine family. The Bluebonnet became the state flower on March
7, 1901. It is called such because it bears a resemblance to a
woman's sunbonnet. This flower can be seen all over the state of Texas in
the spring, usually around March-May. This flower is also known as
buffalo clover, wolf flower, and "el conejo" (Spanish for
jackrabbit).
Bluebonnets are a form of the lupine flower coming from
the Latin word lupus, meaning wolf. They are called "wolf
flower" because it was once believed they "devoured" the
soil of nutrients, because they are found growing where nothing else can
grow. It is now known otherwise that bluebonnets in fact add to the
nutrients of the soil.
6 State Flowers
Before 1971, there were debates over which variation of
bluebonnet was the actual state flower. (Only two variations were known at
that time). In 1971, the state legislature solved this confrontation by
making both variations and "any other variety of bluebonnet not heretofore recorded"
the state flower. Currently there are actually six different species of
state flowers in Texas.
The six state flowers of Texas are:
- Lupinus subcarnosus,
the original champion and still co-holder of the title, grows
naturally in deep sandy loams from Leon County southwest to LaSalle
County and down to the northern part of Hidalgo County in the Valley.
It is often referred to as the sandy land bluebonnet. The plant's
leaflets are blunt, sometimes notched with silky undersides. This
species, which reaches peak bloom in late March, is not easy to
maintain in clay soils. This is one of the two species with seeds
available to the general public.
- Lupinus texensis, the
favorite of tourists and artists, provides the blue spring carpet of
Central Texas. It is widely known as THE Texas Bluebonnet. It has
pointed leaflets, the flowering stalk is tipped with white (like a
bunny's tail) and hits its peak bloom in late March and early April.
It is the easiest of all the species to grow. This is one of the two
species with seeds available to the general public.
- Lupinus Havardii, also
known as the Big Bend, Long Stem, or Chisos Bluebonnet, is the most
majestic of the Texas bluebonnet tribe with flowering spikes up to
three feet. It is found on the flats of the Big Bend country in early
spring, usually has seven leaflets and is difficult to cultivate
outside its natural habitat. The seeds of this bluebonnet are only
available for to licensed growers. Currently there is only one
available, ?????? which grows them for commercial cut flowers.
- Lupinus concinnus is an
inconspicuous little lupine, from 2 to 7 inches, with flowers which
combine elements of white, rosy purple and lavender. Commonly known as
the annual lupine, it is found sparingly in the Trans-Pecos region,
blooming in early spring.
- Lupinus plattensis
sneaks down from the north into the Texas Panhandle's sandy dunes. It
is at the southern tip of its range here in Texas. It is one of two
perennial species in the state and grows to about two feet tall. It
normally blooms in mid to late spring and is also known as the Dune
Bluebonnet, the Plains Bluebonnet, and the Nebraska Lupine.
- Lupensis perennis is
native to the sands of Texas all the way to Florida. This is one of
two perennial species in the state. It is also known as the Sundial
Lupine.
Bluebonnet Colors
The bluebonnet is found in variations of five major
colors. Blue, white, pink, lavender, and maroon. Regardless of the color,
the bluebonnet is still the state flower of Texas.
The blue color is the primary color of the bluebonnet,
hence the name of the flower.
The white bluebonnet is an albino variation found in
nature.
The pink bluebonnet is a rare occurrence in nature. There
is an interesting legend about the pink bluebonnet.
The "Barbara Bush Lavender" bluebonnet is a
selection of natural variation that was collected and improved through
recurrent selection.
The maroon bluebonnet is a fairly new color selection. It
has been enhanced by A&M and is now available in seed form through
Wildseed Farms.
- Texas Wildflowers
- Wildflowers
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