Baptisia alba

Baptisia alba
false white indigo
Fabaceae, the legume family
Coefficient of Conservatism = 8

False white indigo is a tall herb
Photo taken June 22, 2023 at OSU-Marion by Bob Klips

False white indigo is a large herb, aboput 1 meter tall. with the lower half of the plant consisting of spreading branches bearing compound leaves each with 3 leaflets, and the upper halp comprised of a simple erect flowering stalk. The flowers, are bilaterally symmetric, with a large upper petal, two small side ones, and two lower ones that cover the sexual parts of the flower.

 

A bumblebee visits false white indigo.
Photo taken July 3, 2023 at OSU-MArion by Bob Klips

The fruits are legumes–single-chambered ones that split along two sutures–but they are exceptionally plump, not pea-ahaped as is nore often the case.

 

The false white indigo fruits are plump legumes
Photo taken August 30, 2009 at OSU-Marion by Bob Klips

False white indigo is a conpicuous element of the flora during June.

False white indigo is a dominant component of the prairie landscape.
Photo taken June 11, 2010 at OSU-Marion by Bob Klips

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