Herbs to 2 m, glabrous. Leaves petiolate; stipules caducous, lanceolate, 2–8 mm; petiole 5–15 mm; leaflets 3, blades obovate. Racemes 8–20-flowered, terminal, stiffly erect, ebracte­ate. Pedicels 3–10 mm. Flowers 18–25 mm; calyx 7–8 mm, glabrous; corolla white, 16–23 mm. Legumes black in age, ascending to spreading-pendent, plump, ellipsoid-cylindric, 23–50 × 10–30 mm, smooth. Seeds 20–30.

Distribution

c, se United States.

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Baptisia lactea forms hybrids with B. lanceolata, B. nuttalliana, B. sphaerocarpa (B. × sulphurea Engelmann), and B. tinctoria (B. × deamii Larisey).

Peripheral intergradation between var. lactea and var. pendula occurs (hence their treatment as varieties); they are not known to co-occur at present.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Baptisia lactea var. lactea, Baptisia lactea var. pendula

Key

1	Legumes 10–15 mm wide; mature stipes about as long as calyces; c United States.	Baptisia lactea var. lactea
1	Legumes 15–30 mm wide; mature stipes much longer than calyces; se United States.	Baptisia lactea var. pendula