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grayhairy wild indigo
Scientific Name: Baptisia cinerea
Family: Fabaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Baptisia: Wild Indigo and its Relatives
The genus Baptisia, commonly known as wild indigo or false indigo, belongs to the legume family, Fabaceae.
Considerations for Pets
- Some Baptisia species are described as having hairy stems and leaves.
- Some Baptisia species produce pods.
Considerations for Children
- Some Baptisia species are described as having hairy stems and leaves.
- Some Baptisia species produce pods.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Baptisia
- Family: Fabaceae (Legume Family)
- Common Names: Wild Indigo, False Indigo
- Synonyms and Related Species:
- Baptisia arachnifera W.H. Duncan (Cobwebby Wild Indigo, Hairy Rattleweed)
- Baptisia australis (L.) R. Br.
- Baptisia cinerea (Raf.) Fern. & Schub. (Gray-hairy Wild Indigo, Carolina Wild Indigo)
- Baptisia megacarpa Chapman ex Torrey & Gray (Bigpod Wild Indigo)
- Baptisia alba (L.) Vent. (Milky White Indigo, White Wild Indigo), given as B. alba (L.) R. Brown in Fernald (1950)
- Baptisia bracteata Muhl. ex Elliot (Longbract Wild Indigo)
- Baptisia calycosa (Hairy Florida Wild-indigo)
- Baptisia lecontei (LeConte's Wild-indigo, Pineland Wild Indigo)
- Varieties (Note: Some varieties may be unaccepted):
- Baptisia arachnifera var. laevicaulis (A. Gray ex Canby) Isely (Longbract Wild Indigo) - Not accepted
Distribution and Habitat
- Wild Indigo is native to the southeastern U.S. (Indiana to Pennsylvania south to Oklahoma to far).
- Specific mentions of Georgia indicate the presence of native species such as Baptisia arachnifera.
Morphological Characteristics
- Stem branching and hairy.
- Compound leaves with 3 finely hairy, small elliptic leaflets.
- Leaves alternate, petiolate; Stipules green.
- Some species have blue-black pods.
- Some species have gray-green foliage and gray or purple-gray stems.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- Larvae of several butterfly species feed on Baptisia, including:
- Wild Indigo Duskywing (Erynnis baptisiae)
- Hoary Edge
- Southern Dogface
- Orange Sulfur
Quirky Facts
- The name "canescens," which appears in some species descriptions, is Latin for "gray-hairy."
Further Information
- North American Vascular Flora provides county distribution maps for species such as Baptisia cinerea.