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white wild indigo
Scientific Name: Baptisia alba
Family: Fabaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
White Wild Indigo (Baptisia alba)
White Wild Indigo, also known as White False Indigo, is a striking perennial with beautiful white flowers and a shrubby appearance. It's a substantial and long-lived plant that adds a touch of elegance to any garden or prairie setting.
Considerations for Pets
- The plant produces rattle-like seedpods.
Considerations for Children
- The plant produces rattle-like seedpods.
Nomenclature and Taxonomy
- Scientific Name: Baptisia alba
- Common Names: White Wild Indigo, White False Indigo
- Family: Fabaceae (Bean Family)
- Synonyms: Baptisia lactea, Baptisia leucantha, Baptisia alba var. macrophylla
- Alternative Scientific Names: Baptisia lactea var. lactea
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to central and eastern North America.
- Found in sandy, dry areas and open woods.
- Found statewide in Mississippi.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Herbaceous perennial that looks more like a shrub, growing into a bushy shape.
- Reaches 3 to 6 feet in height.
- Erect, lightly branched, smooth stems that can be light green to reddish-purple.
- Pea-like white or cream-colored flowers in long, loose, spike-like racemes, up to 1 inch long.
- Attractive black seed pods in the fall.
- Deep tap root provides drought and fire resistance.
Quirky Facts
- The name Baptisia comes from the Greek word "baptizein," meaning "to dye," referring to its historical, though poor, use as an indigo dye.
- The species name leucantha means "white-flowered."
- The Mesquakies used white wild indigo (B. lactea) to promote vomiting.