Endangered Species: HAIRY RATTLEWEED / COBWEBBY WILD INDIGO / FALSE WILD INDIGO Baptisia arachnifera
by Dr. Kim D. Coder, Professor of Tree Biology & Health Care Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources, University of Georgia
The hairy rattleweed is a unique plant of the Georgia Coastal Plain. It is perennial, multi- branched, 50-80cm (20-32 inches) tall with a reddish-brown stem covered by dense silvery-white tri- chomes (plant hairs). It is in the bean family. Leaves are nearly round or heart-shaped, alternate, 3-8cm (1.2-3.2 inches) long, 2-7cm (0.8-2.8 inches) wide, leathery, with upper surface green, bottom surface yellowish, & covered with long, silvery- white trichomes. Flowering is in late June to July. Flowers are bright yellow, pea-like, and grow in erect clusters at the branch tips above the leaves. Flowers have 5 petals. Fruiting is in late summer. Fruit is a bean- pod, densely covered with trichomes, 8-15mm (0.3-0.6 inches) long. The pod tapers into a long, thin point nearly as long as the body. Hairy rattleweed is found on sandy soils in open pine woods or mixed pine-hardwoods in the southeast Coastal Plain. It is found along low, sandy ridges in pine-palmetto-gallberry flatwoods and along sandy roadsides, old fields, and under open pine plantations. This species is fire dependent and is most abundant after fire. Thinning, cutting, and burning forest sites may improve habitat. Site/soil disturbance, moderate shading, and heavy grazing destroys habitat. Figure 1 shows a general distribution of this species across the Southeastern United States. This species is fedrally listed as an endangered species. It is found in only two counties in Georgia. Figure 2 provides the county distribution in Georgia. A number of photographs are provided here showing various aspects of plant growth.
Publication WSFNR-17-09 March 2017
The University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources offers educational programs, assistance and materials to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, age, gender or disability
The University of Georgia is committed to principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action. WS MI SD PA NJ
IOWA OH DE MY NE IN IL WV VA
KY KS MO. NC
TN S C AR OK GA AL MS
TX LA FL
Figure 1: General distribution in the Southeastern US.
Dr. Kim D. Coder Warnell School University of Georgia 2 DADE CATOOSA FANNIN TOWNS RABUN MURRAY UNION WALKER WHITFIELD GILMER WHITE CHATTOOGA LUMPKIN GORDON STEPHENS PICKENS HABERSHAM
DAWSON FRANKLIN HALL BANKS HART FLOYD CHEROKEE GEORGIA BARTOW
FORSYTH JACKSON MADISON ELBERT POLK BARROW COBB GWINNETT CLARKE OGLETHORPE PAULDING OCONEE HARALSON WALTON DEKALB WILKES LINCOLN DOUGLAS FULTON
CARROLL ROCKDALE MORGAN GREENE NEWTON COLUMBIA
CLAYTON HENRY TALIAFERRO
COWETA WARREN McDUFFIE FAYETTE HEARD JASPER PUTNAM RICHMOND SPALDING BUTTS HANCOCK
GLASCOCK PIKE BALDWIN JEFFERSON BURKE TROUP LAMAR MONROE JONES
MERIWETHER WASHINGTON UPSON
BIBB WILKINSON JENKINS HARRIS TALBOT CRAWFORD JOHNSON SCREVEN TWIGGS EMANUEL MUSCOGEE TAYLOR PEACH
LAURENS HOUSTON CHATTA- BLECKLEY TREUTLEN BULLOCH HOOCHEE MARION MACON CANDLER EFFINGHAM
SCHLEY PULASKI DOOLY DODGE EVANS STEWART WHEELER TOOMBS SUMTER BRYAN CHATHAM WEBSTER WILCOX MONTGOMERY TATTNALL CRISP TELFAIR LIBERTY QUITMAN TERRELL LEE JEFF RANDOLPH BEN HILL DAVIS APPLING TURNER LONG
CLAY IRWIN CALHOUN DOUGHERTY WAYNE WORTH COFFEE BACON McINTOSH TIFT EARLY BAKER PIERCE BERRIEN ATKINSON MITCHELL GLYNN MILLER COLQUITT BRANTLEY COOK WARE
LANIER DECATUR CLINCH GRADY THOMAS LOWNDES CHARLTON CAMDEN
SEMINOLE BROOKS
ECHOLS
Background map from Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia.
Figure 2: County distribution in Georgia.
Dr. Kim D. Coder Warnell School University of Georgia 3 Habitat views.
(photo credits Dr. Kim D. Coder)
Dr. Kim D. Coder Warnell School University of Georgia 4 Whole plants with flowers. (photo credits Dr. Kim D. Coder)
Dr. Kim D. Coder Warnell School University of Georgia 5 Foliage, leaves and flowers. (photo credits Dr. Kim D. Coder)
Dr. Kim D. Coder Warnell School University of Georgia 6 Flowers, fruit, and fruit split open.
(photo credits Dr. Kim D. Coder)
Dr. Kim D. Coder Warnell School University of Georgia 7