Native Plants
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Monday - June 07, 2010
From: Nederland , TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: How to distinguish white-flowered Baptisias?
Answered by: Joe Marcus
QUESTION:
How can I tell the difference between Baptisia alba and Baptisia alba var. macrophyllaANSWER:
Since you're located in Texas, if you have a white-flowered Baptisia blooming now, it's almost certainly Baptisia alba var. macrophylla. In general, B. a. var. macrophylla grows larger than the type. Also, the ranges of B. a. var. alba and the similar species, B. albescens, are limited to the Deep South and do not extend west of Mississippi. Another, creamy-white to yellow flowered species, Baptisia bracteata var. leucophaea does occur in Texas, but it flowers in early spring.
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