Herbs divaricate-branched, to 1 m, puberulent or glabrate. Leaves not blackening upon drying, petiolate; stipules mostly deciduous, lanceolate, 2–10 mm; petiole 2–10 mm; leaflets 3, blades spatulate to obovate. Racemes 3–10-flowered, flowers well spaced, terminal, bracteate, bracts persistent. Pedicels 10–20 mm, bracteolate. Flowers 10–15 mm; calyx 6–7 mm, lobes ± equal to tube, glabrous or pubescent; corolla lemon yellow, 9–14 mm. Legumes ascending, ovoid to suborbicular, 8–11 × 8–9 mm, abruptly short-beaked, somewhat woody. Seeds 2–4.
Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat: Pine and pine-oak woodlands, white, sandy soils.
Elevation: 0–30 m.
Discussion
As noted by D. Isely (1981), Baptisia lecontei superficially resembles B. tinctoria in having relatively small flowers, yellow corollas, and somewhat similar legumes. Baptisia tinctoria does not have the persistent, foliaceous bracts and bracteolate pedicels of B. lecontei.
Selected References
None.