Goldenpea

Goldenpea
(Thermopsis montana)

Another name for this plant is "false lupine". In fact, the scientific name Thermopsis means "similar to a lupine". The flowers are similar in shape, but no lupine has such bright yellow blossoms.

The leaves are compound, with 3 leaflets. Lupines also have compound leaves, but with more than 3 leaflets.

They grow along roadsides and in moist meadows. They are unpalatable to livestock, so they are not eaten when anything better is available. They therefore tend to reproduce and spread when other plants are overgrazed.