Baptisia lecontei Torr. & A.Gray

  • Authority

    Isely, Duane. 1981. Leguminosae of the United States. III. Subfamily Papilionoideae: tribes Sophoreae, Podalyrieae, Loteae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 25 (3): 1-264.

  • Family

    Fabaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Baptisia lecontei Torr. & A.Gray

  • Description

    Species Description - Divaricately branched, bushy, sometimes hemispherical, puberulent or glabrate herb 4-10 dm with solitary or few stems from a heavy, woody, sometimes horizontal crown or caudex. Puberulence of stems antrorse, spreading or negligible; that of leaves subappressed on both surfaces or virtually absent. Lower and medial leaves with graduated petioles, 1-5(-10) mm; upper leaves sessile; leaflets obovate to narrowly spatulate, graduated, those of the lower leaves larger, mostly 3-5(-5.5) cm and 1.8-3 r, the upper ca. 1-2.5 cm and 1.8-2.4 r. Stipules mostly small and deciduous, but lower sometimes persistent. Racemes terminal on the numerous branches, 4-10 cm, with 3-9, well-spaced, ascending flowers 11-14 mm; bracts foliaceous, resembling a single leaflet, persistent. Pedicels slender, 1-2 cm, bibracteolate near apex, often flexuous. Calyx 6-7 mm, puberulent or glabrate; lobes .9-1.2 r. Corolla lemon-yellow; standard with black-maroon or brownish markings. Ovary stipitate ca. 2 mm; body ovoid, tapering both directions, puberulent; ovules ca. 4; style confluent, proximally puberulent. Legume ascending, exserted-stipitate 6-10 mm, ovoid or subglobose, ca. 1 cm x 1 cm, abruptly short-beaked; sutures thinly carinate; valves coriaceous or woody, puberulent. Seeds few.

  • Discussion

    B. lecontei var [beta] T. & G. (1940). B. lecontei fma robustior Larisey (1940). Baptisia lecontei resembles B. tinctoria in its small, yellow flowers and reports of the latter species from Florida are based on misidentifications of B. lecontei. B. tinctoria lacks the persistent, foliaceous bracts and bracteolate pedicels of B. lecontei, and has 7-8 ovules. The phyletic alliance of B. lecontei is probably with the local B. calycosa.

  • Distribution

    W pennisular Florida from De Soto co, n to s Georgia. Pine flatwoods, pine-palmetto, openings in turkey oak, sand hills, old fields; occasionally urban waste areas; loose, dry sands; locally abundant, occasionally considered weedy. (March-) April-June (-July).

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