yellow false indigo

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• yellow false indigo
• yellow wild indigo
• Wild Indigo
• Wild-indigo
• horseflyweed
• indigo-broom
• rattleweed
• yellow-broom

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Podalyria tinctoria
• Sophora tinctoria
• Baptisia gibbesii
• Baptisia tinctoria var. crebra
• Baptisia tinctoria var. gibbesii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Baptisia tinctoria, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. It is further categorized under the genus Baptisia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical range across several regions of North America. In Eastern Canada, its presence is noted specifically within the province of Ontario. Moving into the North-Central United States, the species can be found in both Illinois and Wisconsin. The distribution extends into the Northeastern United States, where it inhabits Connecticut. Additionally, the plant is documented within the Northeastern United States area of Indiana.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Baptisia tinctoria is characterized by its status as a perennial, meaning it lives for more than two years and maintains its presence in the ecosystem through successive growing seasons. As a long-lived herbaceous species, it typically establishes itself through seeds or via its robust, woody taproot system, which allows the plant to survive dormant periods during unfavorable environmental conditions. In its early years, the plant focuses on developing a deep, sturdy root structure that provides stability and nutrient storage, eventually maturing into a large, clump-forming mound of foliage. Each year, the plant undergoes a seasonal cycle of vegetative growth, producing lush green leaves, followed by the emergence of distinctive flower spikes, and finally the production of seed pods. Once the seeds are dispersed, the plant enters a period of dormancy, relying on its perennial rootstock to re-emerge and repeat its reproductive cycle in subsequent years.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Baptisia tinctoria is characterized by a growth form classified as both a herb and a forb, exhibiting a non-woody structure throughout its development. This terrestrial plant is self-supporting in its growth habit, lacking any climbing or vine-like characteristics, and functions as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. On average, the plant reaches a height of approximately 0.76 m, maintaining a stature consistent with its herbaceous, non-woody nature.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

0.76 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Baptisia tinctoria is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation efficiency. As a C3 plant, it utilizes the enzyme RuBisCO to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide directly into a three-carbon compound during the Calvin cycle, a process that is most efficient under moderate temperatures and sufficient moisture levels. This metabolic framework influences its water-use efficiency and transpiration rates, as the plant must balance the opening of its stomata for gas exchange with the risk of desiccation. Furthermore, its physiological performance is closely linked to its symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria within its root nodules, a trait common to many legumes that enhances its ability to synthesize nitrogenous compounds and support robust growth in nutrient-poor soils.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Baptisia tinctoria is primarily driven by the production of seeds contained within its legume pods, which serve as the fundamental mechanism for dispersal and population expansion. The morphological characteristics of these seeds exhibit specific variations in weight, which are critical indicators of reproductive vigor and potential seedling establishment. Detailed quantitative analysis of the seed mass reveals a mean weight of approximately 0.0039125 g. While there is a recorded maximum seed mass of 0.006313 g, it is notable that the minimum recorded seed mass is also 0.006313 g, suggesting a highly concentrated data range for the upper limits of seed development within the observed samples. These small, lightweight seeds are designed to facilitate effective germination processes once they encounter suitable environmental conditions in the soil.

Seed mass max:

0.006313 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0039125 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Baptisia tinctoria has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Planta medica

Chemicals

Baptisia tinctoria has 21 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ANAGYRINE, CYTISINE, GALACTOSAMINE, GLUTAMIC ACID, GUM.

ANAGYRINE

1. Dr. Duke

CYTISINE

1. Dr. Duke

GALACTOSAMINE

1. Planta medica

GLUTAMIC ACID

1. Planta medica

GUM

1. Dr. Duke

Glycoproteins

1. Planta medica

Orobol

1. Dr. Duke

Pseudobaptigenin

1. Dr. Duke

Scopoletin 7-O-Glucoside

1. Dr. Duke

Sparteine

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Baptisia tinctoria has 183 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-Inhibitor, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, Abortifacient, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor, Allelochemic.

17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Anesthetic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

AntiRSV

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Baptisia tinctoria has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include typhoid.

Typhoid

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Preparations

Baptisia tinctoria has 3 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extract, Alcoholic extracts, botanicals.

Extract

1. Arzneimittel-Forschung
2. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Alcoholic extracts

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Botanicals

1. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)