Baptisia cinerea (Raf.) Fernald & B.G.Schub.
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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.
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Family
Fabaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Robust, divaricately branched, erect or divergently low-spreading, puberulent herb from a chunky, woody crown or caudex, or short rhizomes. Stems contiguous-clustered (-solitary), 3-8 dm. Petioles 0-10 mm, little-graduated, usually either 4-5 mm or obsolete (0-1 mm); leaflets diverse in shape, obovate, oblan-ceolate to narrowly elliptic, mostly 4-7.5 cm x 2.5-4.5 cm, 1.5-4 r, coriaceous, glabrous and shiny above, usually puberulent below. Stipules .5-3 cm, the lower usually persistent, the middle and upper reduced or deciduous. Racemes short or elongate, 1-4 dm, ascending or spreading, with (3-)5-many, ascending flowers 2-2.8 cm, sometimes somewhat secund; bracts deciduous (-slightly persistent). Pedicels (2-)6-10(-15) mm. Calyx 8-9 mm, lobes 2-3 mm. Corolla bright yellow. Ovary stipitate 2-3 mm; body oblong, ca. 5 mm, puberulent or villosulous with hairs less than .5 mm that diminish along the slender, confluent style; ovules 1830. Legume ascending or divergent, exserted-stipitate 6-9 mm, inflated, ellipsoid to asymmetric-lancoid, ca. 1.5-3.5 cm x 8-1.5 cm, gradually or abruptly tapering to a slender or short and heavy beak; valves thick, initially tawny-cinereous, becoming black, coriaceous or woody, either permanently puberulent or glabrate. Seeds few-numerous.
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Discussion
Lasinia cinerea Raf. (1837); B. cinerea (Raf.) Fern & Schub. (1948). B. villosa auct. non Sophora villosa Walt. (1788). This robust, eastern species is recognized by its usually ample, ascending or erect racemes of large yellow flowers. It differs from racemose forms of Baptisia lanceolata in that the stipules of the lower foliar nodes are partially persistent, and from B. bracteata var bracteata in habit and its mostly deciduous raceme bracts and much brighter flowers. Considerable South Carolina material has reduced racemes and petioles, in these features seemingly approaching B. lanceolata that is abundant in Georgia. Although Baptisia cinerea usually fruits abundantly, some populations (at least in certain years) are mostly sterile or have only abortive racemes. Possibly flowering is reduced under shade. I have seen no evidence suggesting hybridization with other species except B. alba and possibly B. bracteata var bracteata.
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Distribution
South Carolina and North Carolina (-Virginia). Coastal plain and Piedmont. Open, usually dry sandy soils; pine or deciduous woodlands, or cutover or burnt areas, savannas, sandhills, old field borders, roadsides; slightly cult. April-May.
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