What is the difference between snapdragon and lupine?

Snapdragon and lupine are both very beautiful ornamental flowering plants, and because the two have many similarities, many people easily confuse them. Below is an introduction to the differences between snapdragon and lupine.

Difference 1: Different family and genus

Snapdragon, also called dragon's mouth flower, lion flower, dragon mouth flower, and foreign colorful sparrow, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the genus Antirrhinum of the family Scrophulariaceae. Lupine, also called lupin bean and many-leaved lupine, is an annual herbaceous plant in the genus Lupinus of the family Fabaceae.

Difference 2: Different stems and leaves

The base of the snapdragon stem is sometimes woody, the base of the stem is hairless, the middle and upper parts are covered with glandular hairs, and the base sometimes branches; the lower leaves are opposite, the upper leaves are often alternate, the leaf blades are hairless, lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, with entire margins. The base of the lupine stem branches, and the whole plant is covered with brown or rusty stiff hairs; the leaves grow like a palm, spreading outward in all directions, and the leaf blades are obovate, oblanceolate to spatulate, with stiff hairs on both sides.

Difference 3: Different flowers

The inflorescence of snapdragon is relatively short, about as long as a corn cob, and the flowers look like goldfish, arranged in a messy way. The inflorescence of lupine is especially long, able to grow as long as an adult's arm, and the flowers are arranged very neatly.

Difference 4: Different fruits

The capsule of snapdragon is ovate, about 15 mm long, with the base strongly extending forward, covered with glandular hairs, and dehiscing by pores at the apex. The pod of lupine is oblong-linear, 2.5-5 cm long and 0.8-1.2 cm wide, densely covered with brown stiff hairs, with a short downward-pointing beak at the tip.