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Common Name: Plains Wild Indigo

Other Names: Large-Bracted Wild Indigo, Yellow False Indigo, Long-Bracted Wild Indigo

Species Name: Baptisia bracteata

Plant Type: Legume

Family Name: Fabaceae, Pea Family

 

 

Plant Facts  
Origin Native
Duration Perennial
Distribution in the U.S. Eastern half and Nebraska, central Kansas and north-central Texas
Distribution in Oklahoma Eastern half of the state

 

 

ID Characteristics

  • Field Identification Characteristics

    Vegetative

    • Leaves medium to large in size; 3 leaflets per leaf
    • 2 smaller leaves at the base and compact capsules

    Floral

    • Large, noticeable flowers; blue or cream in color
    • Seed pods large and compact capsules
  • Leaf and Stem Characteristics
    • Leaf Type: Compound, palmately
    • Leaf Arrangement: Alternate 
    • Leaf Shape: Oblanceolate or spathulate
    • Stipules: Present
  • Floral Characteristics
    • Petal Number: 5, fused
    • Flower Color: Yellowish or cream-white
    • Flower Timing: April-June
    • Fruit Type: Legumes

 

 

Habitat/Ecology  
Soil Type Sand, loam and clay soils
Habitat Prairies, open woodlands and roadsides
Successional Stage Late

 

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