Publication WSFNR-21-09C February 2021 Endangered Species: HAIRY RATTLEWEED / COBWEBBY WILD INDIGO / FALSE WILD INDIGO Baptisia arachnifera Dr. Kim D. Coder, Professor of Tree Biology & Health Care / University Hill Fellow University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources 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. HAIRY RATTLEWEED Baptisia arachnifera -- Dr. Kim D. Coder 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. page 2 HAIRY RATTLEWEED Baptisia arachnifera -- Dr. Kim D. Coder DADE CATOOSA FANNIN TOWNS RABUN MURRAY UNION WALKER WHITFIELD GILMER WHITE CHATTOOGA LUMPKIN GORDON STEPHENS ABERSHAM PICKENS H 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 CK GLASCO PIKE ETHER BALDWIN JEFFERSON BURKE TROUP LAMAR MONROE JONES ERIW M 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 EBSTER CHATHAM W 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. page 3 HAIRY RATTLEWEED Baptisia arachnifera -- Dr. Kim D. Coder Habitat views. (photo credits Dr. Kim D. Coder) page 4 HAIRY RATTLEWEED Baptisia arachnifera -- Dr. Kim D. Coder Whole plants with flowers. (photo credits Dr. Kim D. Coder) page 5 HAIRY RATTLEWEED Baptisia arachnifera -- Dr. Kim D. Coder Foliage, leaves and flowers. (photo credits Dr. Kim D. Coder) page 6 HAIRY RATTLEWEED Baptisia arachnifera -- Dr. Kim D. Coder Flowers, fruit, and fruit split open. (photo credits Dr. Kim D. Coder) page 7 HAIRY RATTLEWEED Baptisia arachnifera -- Dr. Kim D. Coder Citation: Coder, Kim D. 2021. Endangered Species: HAIRY RATTLEWEED / COBWEBBY WILD INDIGO / FALSE WILD INDIGO Baptisia arachnifera. University of Georgia, Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources Outreach Publication WSFNR21-09C. Pp.8. 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. page 8.