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Flower |
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Wild Indigo
(Baptisia spp.)
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Description
Wild indigo is a deep-rooted, perennial herb with bushy, branched,
stout stems (often up to 3/8 inch at the base). Plants of
some species may be as tall as 70 inches, but many specimens
reach less than 15 inches. The leaves are alternate with three
deep lobes and two characteristic oblong structures attached
at the base of the leaf stem. The yellow or white flowers
(rarely bluish) are in terminal or split spikes several inches
long. In some species the spikes are erect and in others they
hang like grape clusters. The fruit is a beaked pod
containing two or more seeds. The dark gray or black leaf
and stem color of the dead plants is a distinguishing feature
of wild indigo.
Distribution and habitat
Various species of wild indigo are common in north central
and eastern Texas. Texas species extend into Oklahoma, Louisiana,
Arkansas and the eastern United States. They are usually found
in sandy or sandy loam soil.
Regions: 1, 2,
3, 4,
5, 8.
Toxic agent
Alkaloids present in wild indigo are
believed to be responsible for its toxicity. These plants
are very unpalatable and consumption is rare except when the
animal is forced to eat it in hay, as has happened
with horses. There are also very infrequent reports of cattle
being affected by these plants.
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Livestock signs
Signs of poisoning are those of a gastrointestinal upset and
include:
In cases submitted to the Texas Veterinary
Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Baptisia-induced colic has
been fatal to horses.
Integrated management strategies
Affected animals usually recover with supportive treatment
after the contaminated hay has been removed. The black plant
material is easily recognized in hay, which should not be
fed in a manner forcing consumption. Examine hay meadows
for the plant before harvest. The individual plants can
usually be removed mechanically.
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