NOTE: On the 12-17-23 update, Plants of the World Online said Baptisia alba var. microphylla is now a synonym of Baptisia leucophaea… HMMM… Replacing the scientific name of a white-flowered Baptisia with one that produces cream-colored flowers… This species is LIKELY Baptisia lactea (var. lactea) which was a synonym of B. alba, now accepted. 

Wild White Indigo, White False Indigo, Largeleaf Wild Indigo, Prairie False Indigo, Western White Indigo…

Baptisia lactea

(Baptisia lactea var. lactea)

bap-TIS-ee-uh  lak-TAY-UH

Synonyms of Baptisia lactea (Raf.) Thieret (1) (Updated on 1-13-24 from Plants of the World Online): Dolichos lacteus Raf. (1817)
Synonyms of Baptisia lactea var. lactea (autonym) (3) (Updated on 1-13-24 from POWO): Baptisia leucantha Torr. & A.Gray (1840), Baptisia leucantha var. divaricata Larisey (1940), Baptisia leucantha var. pauciflora Larisey (1940)
Synonyms of Baptisia lactea var. pendula (Larisey) B.L.Turner (3) (Updated on 1-23-24 from POWO): Baptisia lactea var. obovata (Larisey) Isely (1978), Baptisia pendula Larisey (1940), Baptisia pendula var. obovata Larisey (1940)

Baptisia lactea (Raf.) Thieret is one again the accepted scientific name for this species of Baptisia. It was named and described as such by John William Thieret in Sida in 1969. It was first named Dolichos lacteus by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque in Florula Ludoviciana ( A Flora of the State of Louisiana) in 1817. No Wikipedia information about Mr. Thieret… 

Accepted Infraspecific Names (2) (Updated on 1-13-24 from POWO): Baptisia lactea var. lactea (autonym) and Baptisia lactea var. pendula (Larisey) B.L. Turner (2006). *When an infraspecific taxon is named, an autonym (“type-specimen”) is automatically generated whose description is closest to the (original) species. All have their own list of synonyms… 

The genus, Baptisia Vent., was named and described as such by Étienne Pierre Ventenat in Decas Generum Novorum in 1808.

As of 1-13-24 when this page was last updated, Plants of the World Online lists 18 species in the Baptisia genus. It is a member of the plant family Fabaceae with 793 genera. Those numbers could change as updates are made on POWO.

The above distribution map for Baptisia lactea is from Plants of the World Online. The map for B. lactea var. lactea is HERE, and B. lactea var. pendula is HERE. The map on the USDA Plants Database is for Baptisia alba var. macrophylla is similar to B. lactea var. lactea. Their map for Baptisia alba var. alba is similar is similar to B. lactea var. pendula. The USDA map for Baptisia alba was wildly different from POWO before, now, since the name changed, it is all messed up! Plants of the World Online gets their maps from Flora of North America. The group that changed the name…

With this change, Baptisia alba is now restricted to 7 southeastern states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia). There are no infraspecific (lower taxon) names… You can view the map for B. alba on POWO by clicking HERE.

Normally, I post a link to iNaturalist for the species, but that wouldn’t work since the name changed. It’s all screwed up now. After names change, the old species has to be flagged and goes through a deviation process which sometimes takes a while (understatement)… They just want to make sure all the hoops have been jumped through. 

 THERE ARE SEVERAL LINKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR FURTHER READING AND FOR A BETTER POSITIVE ID.

I was driving on a back road coming back from a friend’s house on July 1 in 2018 and almost ran off the road when I saw this small colony of Baptisia. I had to go back home and get my camera to take photos… Of all the back roads and highways I have been on, this was the first time I have seen them. Unfortunately, they have been keeping the right-of-way mowed since so they haven’t been allowed to grow in this area. According to the Missouri Plants website, Baptisia alba in Missouri are assigned to the variety Baptisia alba var. macrophylla. Since 2018, I have found them on another road east of the first sighting and along the highway headed to a nearby community but I haven’t stopped to take photos.

THEN IT HAPPENED…

When I was making updates in December 2024, all as going pretty well. Not like the past few years when so many scientific names and synonyms were changing. Then I came to this page… Plants of the World Online said Baptisia alba var. macrophylla (Larisey) Isely had became a synonym of Baptisia leucophaea Nutt.….. Of course, I had to check out Baptisia leucophaea… Then I had to scratch my head. Photos online showed plants with yellow flowers and horizontal racemes… How in the heck could a plant with upright racemes of white flowers become a synonym of a species with yellow flowers and horizontal branches? Since I hadn’t updated this page, I still had the synonyms of Baptisia alba var. macrophylla. I read all the original documents of the synonyms, and the ones with descriptions pointed to plants with white flowers and upright racemes (not in those exact words, but you get the point). I quizzed the editor of POWO and he said, “That was just changed from FNA. I assume they studied plants across America.” Well, Flora of North America didn’t have the plant family Fabaceae published online yet, so I sent an email to “a guy” from FNA. He said they had Fabaceae published, but it wasn’t online yet. He sent a PDF file which somewhat cleared the muddy waters. I read what he sent then scratched my head AGAIN. It says the ONLY white flowered Baptisia in Missouri was Baptisia lactea (Raf.) Thieret which was a synonym of Baptisia alba var. macrophylla… All of the “former” synonyms of B. alba var. macrophylla (according to POWO) became synonyms of Baptisia lactea var. lactea (autonym) except for one. Baptisia pendula var. macrophylla Larisey became a synonym of Baptisia leucophaea Nutt. Hmmm… So, the former synonym B. lactea (Raf.) Thieret is now an accepted name and has seemingly, in my opinion, replaced Baptisia alba var. macrophylla in every way except by name. I still don’t get it… Think about it… If the descriptions online for Baptisia alba var. macrophylla match Baptisia lactea, how can it be a synonym of B. leucophaea based on ONE former synonym? The original description of B. leucophaea by Mr. Nuttall from 1818 is very vague. Well, I’m not a botanist or taxonomist, so why wouldn’t it be vague to me?

So, in a nutshell, the species represented on this page is likely Baptisia lactea based on FNA’s description and map, which weren’t published online as of when I updated this page. SO, most everything published online as Baptisia alba var. macrophylla is indeed B. lactea… Not Baptisia leucophaea… GEEZ!!!

Then, I had to change captions and basically this whole page. I didn’t change the URL’s associated with this page or photos. That way, when people look for Baptisia alba var. macrophylla, they will see the name has changed… Otherwise, they will go to nothing…

Baptisia alba is an attractive perennial plant that can grow 3-6’ tall in favorable conditions. They grow from thick, deep, woody taproots with rhizomes that may form offsets. Baptisia species do not like to be disturbed once established, so if you want these for your flower beds or native habitat, it is best to buy plants or seeds. Baptisia increases nitrogen levels in soil. Baptisia prefers growing in full sun in just about any type of soil except alkaline. It may take several years for new plants to flower.

I was driving on a backroad going to the same friend’s house on 7-20-21 and spotted two small colonies but ONCE AGAIN I didn’t have my camera. I went back on 7-22 with my camera and took a few photos.

A former name, which was a synonym of B. alba var. macrophylla, Baptisia lactea was resurrected and is now the ONLY white-flowered Baptisia in Missouri. Baptisia alba is still an accepted species found in seven states in the southeast of the United States…

The main stem and side branches terminate with erect racemes, 18-24” long, with 8-20 flowers. The white flowers are similar to many members in the plant family Fabaceae.

Flowers are termed as “papilionaceous” with white corollas, sometimes with a purple splotch or other markings at the base of the upper petal (standard). The lateral wings are forward facing, and the keel is below. Staminate (male) flowers include 10 stamens, free (not fused) filaments, and anthers. Pistillate (female flowers) have a short-stalked ovary, and of course, a stigma. The flower is surrounded by a blueish-green tubular calyx… Some websites say there is no floral scent, others say there is. I haven’t taken a whiff. Flowers are produced from May-July in Missouri.

Baptisia lactea is an herbaceous perennial that can grow to a height of around 6’ tall in ideal conditions. The main stems are erect with ascending branches, glabrous (hairless), glaucous (dull grayish-green), light green, purple, or green with purple, and finely ribbed. 

Flowers that are pollinated give way to a pea-like seed pod that is around 2” in length. The pods turn black with age.

The leaves are trifoliate with leaflets oblanceolate to to obovate or elliptic, hairless, margins toothless, and have a single midvein. The tips are bluntly pointed, tapered at the base, and blacken with age. A pair of narrow, sharply pointed leaf-like stipules are attached at the leaf joint. 

The summer of 2023 was very hot and dry. Probably the worst I had seen. Most wildflowers in the pasture and hayfield had fizzled out by midsummer. I didn’t get out much to go wildflower hunting until September, so I didn’t photograph any Baptisia lactea. Hopefully, 2024 will be much better and I can take more photographs. I always need better close-ups…

There are a few more photos at the bottom of the page…

I live on the family farm in Windsor, Missouri in Pettis County (Henry County is across the street, and Benton and Johnson aren’t far away). I have grown over 500 different plants and identified over 250 species of wildflowers (most have pages listed on the right side of the page). I am not an expert, botanist, or horticulturalist. I just like growing, photographing, and writing about my experience. I rely on several websites for ID and a few horticulturalists I contact if I cannot figure them out. Wildflowers can be variable from location to location, so that can be a bit confusing. If you see I have made an error, please let me know so I can correct what I have written.

I hope you found this page useful and be sure to check the links below for more information. They were written by experts and provide much more information. Some sites may not be up-to-date but they are always a work in progress. If you can, I would appreciate it if you would click on the “Like” below and leave a comment. It helps us bloggers stay motivated. You can also send an email to me at thebelmontrooster@yahoo.com. I would enjoy hearing from you especially if you notice something is a bit whacky.

Links with * are for Baptisia lactea and/or var. lactea, ** are for Baptisia alba and/or var. macrophylla…

FOR FURTHER READING:
*PLANTS OF THE WORLD ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
*INTERNATIONAL PLANT NAMES INDEX (GENUS/SPECIES)
*TROPICOS (GENUS/SPECIES)
**FLORA OF MISSOURI (GENUS/VAR.)
**WORLD FLORA ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES/VAR.)
**WIKIPEDIA (GENUS/SPECIES)
**USDA PLANTS DATABASE (SPECIES/VAR.)
**DAVE’S GARDEN
**MISSOURI PLANTS
**MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN (SPECIES/VAR.)
**MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION
**iNATURALIST
*WILDFLOWER SEARCH
**ILLINOIS WILDFLOWERS
*MINNESOTA WILDFLOWERS
*MINNESOTA DEPT. OF NATURAL RESOURCES
**MINNESOTA SEASONS
**KANSAS WILDFLOWERS AND GRASSES
**GARDENIA
**LADY BIRD JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER
(SPECIES/VAR.)
**FLORA FINDER
*PFAF (PLANTS FOR A FUTURE)
**FRIENDS OF THE WILDFLOWER GARDEN
**CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN
**U.S. FOREST SERVICE
*FLORA OF WISCONSIN
*OHIO DEPT. OF NATURAL RESOURCES
*MICHIGAN NATURAL FEATURES INVENTORY
*UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN HERBARIUM
*RESTORING THE LANDSCAPE
**NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
**FLORIDA WILDFLOWER FOUNDATION
*USEFUL TEMPERATE PLANTS

NOTE: The data (figures, maps, accepted names, etc.) may not match on these websites. It depends on when and how they make updates and when their sources make updates. Some websites have hundreds and even many thousands of species to keep up with. Accepted scientific names change periodically and it can be hard to keep with as well. Some of the links may use a name that is a synonym on other sites. In my opinion, Plants of the World Online by Kew is one of the most reliable and up-to-date plant databases and they make updates regularly. I make updates “at least” once a year and when I write new pages or add new photos but I do get behind. We are all a work in progress. 🙂

MORE PHOTOS…

 

 

 

Again in 2022, I found the same two colonies as in 2021.