bluebonnet (plant)

{{short description|Flowering plant of the genus Lupinus}}

File:Bluebonnet-8100.jpg]]

File:Texas Blue-Bonnet -- Lupinus.jpg]]

Bluebonnet is a name given to any of a number of purple-flowered or blue-flowered species of the genus Lupinus and is collectively the state flower of Texas. The shape of the petals on the flower resembles the bonnet worn by pioneer women to shield them from the sun.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lsjunction.com/flower.htm|title=Lone Star Junction|access-date=6 June 2013}}

Species often called bluebonnets include:

• Lupinus argenteus, silvery lupine
• Lupinus concinnus, Bajada lupine
• Lupinus havardii, Big Bend bluebonnet or Chisos bluebonnet
• Lupinus perennis, wild lupine or blue lupine
• Lupinus plattensis, Nebraska lupine
• Lupinus subcarnosus, sandyland bluebonnet or buffalo clover
• Lupinus texensis, Texas bluebonnet or Texas lupine

On March 7, 1901, Lupinus subcarnosus became the only species of bluebonnet recognized as the state flower of Texas;{{Cite web|url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/trb01|author=Andrews, Jean |title=Bluebonnet|website=Handbook of Texas Online|access-date=15 September 2011}} however, Lupinus texensis emerged as the favorite of most Texans. So, in 1971, the Texas Legislature made any similar species of Lupinus that could be found in Texas the state flower.

2008">{{Cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Tex-Arcana-How-bluebonnets-became-state-flower-1792133.php|work=Houston Chronicle|title=How Bluebonnets became the state flower|access-date=15 September 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/flowers/bluebonnet/bluebonnetstory.html|title=Texas Bluebonnets--Texas Pride|last1=Parsons|first1=Jerry M.|last2=George|first2=Steve|last3=Grant|first3=Greg|website=Aggie Horticulture|publisher=Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M System|access-date=24 June 2015}} Despite the common belief among Texans that picking bluebonnets is illegal in the state, this is a myth, and there are no laws that specifically prohibit picking them.{{Cite web |date=2019-03-18 |title=Is it really illegal to pick bluebonnets? Here’s what the rules say |url=https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/is-it-really-illegal-to-pick-bluebonnets-heres-what-the-rules-say/ |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=KXAN Austin |language=en-US}}

As an extension of Lady Bird Johnson's efforts at highway beautification in the United States (see Highway Beautification Act), she encouraged the planting of native plants along Texas highways after she left the White House.{{cite web | title = Our Environmental First Lady | url = http://www.wildflower.org/environmental_first_lady/ | website = Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center | access-date = 2015-07-26 | archive-date = 2013-12-04 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131204233046/http://www.wildflower.org/environmental_first_lady/ | url-status = dead }} Bluebonnet blooms are now a common sight along these highways in the springtime. They serve as a popular backdrop for family photographs, and the Department of Public Safety issues safety recommendations with regard to drivers pulling off highways to take such pictures.{{cite press release | title = Information for the News Media | publisher = Texas Department of Public Safety | url = https://www.dps.texas.gov/director_staff/public_information/2004/pr031104.htm | date = 2004-03-11 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091852/https://www.dps.texas.gov/director_staff/public_information/2004/pr031104.htm | archive-date = 2016-03-04 }}