It has been cultivated since the time of the ancient Greeks, was grown extensively in the United States during the 1940s, and apparently makes a dynamite low-calorie, nutrient-rich pasta. It is lupin, known both as a striking yellow, purple or white wildflower and as a legume grown as a grain crop in many parts of the world, including the United States. Scientists from many of these countries will meet May 11-16 at the Asilomar Conference Center in Monterey to report on current research into the many facets of lupin's agronomic and ecological uses during the 8th International Lupin Conference. "Lupin has the potential to become more extensively cultivated as an important protein crop with both human and livestock uses," says Dan Putnam, a UC Davis-based Cooperative Extension agronomist and one of the chief conference organizers. California is an important "gene center" for native species of lupin. Of the 190 species known to exist worldwide, 120 occur naturally in California.