BAPTISIA AUSTRA LIS. 
SOUTHERN BAPTISIA. 
Class. Order. 
DECANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
EEGUMINOS/F.. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Introduced 
N. America. 
2jr feet. 
June. 
Perennial. 
in 1758. 
No. 567. 
The present generic name, Baptisia, is derived 
from the Greek bapto, to dye. The term may be 
considered as applying more immediately to the 
species called tinctoria, which is indigenous to a 
wide region of North America, extending from 
James’s Bay to the Gulf of Mexico. From the 
Baptisia tinctoria indigo was produced, previously 
to the use of the Indigofera tinctoria for that pur- 
pose. The Baptisia Australis has been succes- 
sively considered as belonging to the genera So- 
phora and Podalyria. 
This is a very hardy and desirable plant; its 
foliage possessing neatness and a softened green 
hue, and its flowers depth of colour, well calculated 
to produce effect in the borders. It is requisite that 
the plant remain two or three years undisturbed, 
to attain strength, or it will not flower freely; 
indeed, weak plants frequently do not flower at all. 
It will flourish in any common garden soil ; but 
flowers best in that which is rich, light, and deep. 
Increase may be obtained by division of the roots; 
or, it may be raised from seeds, which are frequently 
ripened, and should be sown in the spring. 
Don’s Syst. Bot. v. 2. 113. 
