AbstractEcotypes of the native Spanish species Lupinus hispanicus were analysed for the presence of the toxic and antinutritional factors in the seed. Comparisons were made between the two subspecies ( ssp hispanicus (Boiss et Reut) and ssp bicolor(Merino)). Other Lupinus species were also analysed.Total alkaloid content was 20 g kg−1, similar to that of L luteus L. Of the main alkaloids, gramme is found in both subspecies, lupinine in ssp hispanicus and epilupinine only in ssp bicolor. The saponin content (12 g kg−1) is similar to that in the other species, as is the content of oligosaccharides of the raffinose family. Phytic acid values (9–20 g kg−1) were lower than in some varieties of L mutabilis (Sweet) and L albus L. Vicine and convicine were absent in all Lupinus species, and haemagglutinins were not found.