Herbs to 1.5 m, glabrous. Leaves petiolate; stipules deciduous, linear-lanceolate, 3–8 mm; pet­iole 5–20 mm; leaflets 3, blades obovate to elliptic-lanceolate. Racemes 8–20-flowered, terminal, bracteate. Pedicels 6–10 mm. Flowers 14–18 mm; calyx 4.5–6.5 mm, gla­brous; corolla white, 12–16 mm. Legumes ascending, ± inflated, cylindric to oblong-lanceoloid, 20–30 × 7–10 mm, brittle. Seeds 20–30.

Phenology: Flowering Mar–May.
Habitat: Pine or pine-oak woodlands in mostly sandy soils.
Elevation: 50–700 m.

Distribution

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Ala., Fla., Ga., N.C., S.C., Tenn., Va.

Discussion

D. Isely (1981) accepted Baptisia alba as containing B. albescens, as did R. L. Wilbur (1963c) and B. L. Turner (2006c); later, Isely (1998) recognized B. alba with two varieties and including B. lactea and B. albescens. M. Woods and A. R. Diamond (2014) accepted both B. alba and B. albescens. The taxonomy and nomenclature of these taxa were discussed in more detail by Turner.

Baptisia alba forms hybrids with B. cinerea, B. lanceolata, B. perfoliata (B. × fulva Larisey), and B. tinctoria (B. × pinetorum Larisey [= B. × serenae M. A. Curtis]).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.