Baptisia tinctoria (L.) R. Br.
Wild indigo, yellow false indigo, horseflyweed, horseflyw
Kingdom Plantae Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass Rosidae Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order Fabales Legumes (pea and bean families)
Family Fabaceae Legume family (peas and beans)
Genus Baptisia From Greek baptizein, “to dye,” because members of this genus were used to prepare dye
Species tinctoria Derived from Latin tinctura, “dyeing”: A plant that produces a color or stain when broken
About plant names...
Yellow false indigo's scientific name (both Baptisia and tinctoria mean "dye") derives from its
use as an inferior substitute for real indigo, an unrelated plant, for the manufacture of dye.
Wild indigo is a native of North America.
Identification: Wild indigo is multiply branched and
somewhat unruly, sometimes matted in appearance, 1-3′ (30-91 cm) high. In Martha's Vineyard, MA, it forms a
ball-shaped cluster that breaks off when it dries out in the fall and rolls around like
tumbleweed. Leaves are alternate , silvery green, in triplets similar to clover. Each leaflet
is ¼″ (6.3 mm) long. Clusters of yellow, pea-like flowers appear in July.
The individual leaves are similar to those of clover, but the shape of the 3-leaf cluster is characteristic of wild indigo.
Edibility: Poisonous :
Physiological Action—When fresh and taken in a sufficiently large dose Baptisia causes violent vomiting and purging. In poisonous doses there is an acceleration of respiration and reflex activity followed by death from central paralytic asphyxia.[1]
Online References:
The Missouri Botanical Garden
Www.henriettes-herb.com
Wikipedia
Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
The Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site
8/13/2017 · Burges Pond, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)
8/4/2009 · Near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 3½ × 5″ (9.3 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain
7/16/2013 · Near North Middlesex High School, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 10 cm)
8/29/2016 · Massachusetts
8/13/2017 · Burges Pond, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)
5/22/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 14″ (23 × 35 cm)
7/16/2013 · Near North Middlesex High School, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)
5/22/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 14 × 10″ (36 × 24 cm)
8/6/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain
7/16/2013 · Near North Middlesex High School, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 10 cm)
Older scientific or horticultural names
Baptisia gibbesii Small
Baptisia tinctoria (L.) R. Br. var. crebra Fernald
Baptisia tinctoria (L.) R. Br. var. projecta Fernald
Baptisia tinctoria description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
7/16/2013 · Near North Middlesex High School, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 3½″ (14 × 9.6 cm)
8/6/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm) ID is uncertain
6/27/2012 · Near North Middlesex High School, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)
5/22/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts
6/14/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 15 × 10″ (39 × 26 cm) ID is uncertain
8/13/2017 · Burges Pond, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm)
7/14/2013 · Ball Hill Trail, Leominster State Forest, Leominster, Massachusetts · ≈ 11 × 7″ (28 × 18 cm)
8/4/2009 · Near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.3 cm) ID is uncertain
7/14/2013 · Ball Hill Trail, Leominster State Forest, Leominster, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 16 cm)
8/30/2010 · Proctor Rd, near 119, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (11 × 17 cm)
7/16/2013 · Near North Middlesex High School, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (16 × 11 cm)
6/27/2012 · Near North Middlesex High School, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm)
6/27/2012 · Near North Middlesex High School, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)
Range: Zones 3-9:
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