Endangered Species: Baptisia arachnifera

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Audrey Walton
5 years ago
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1 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, multibranched, 50-80cm (20-32 inches) tall with a reddish-brown stem covered by dense silvery-white trichomes (plant hairs). It is in the bean family. Leaves are nearly round or heart-shaped, alternate, 3-8cm ( inches) long, 2-7cm ( inches) wide, leathery, with upper surface green, bottom surface yellowish, & covered with long, silverywhite 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 beanpod, densely covered with trichomes, 8-15mm ( 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 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.

2 SD WS MI PA NJ NE IOWA IL IN OH WV VA DE MY KS MO. KY NC OK AR MS TN AL GA S C TX LA FL Figure 1: General distribution in the Southeastern US. 2

3 DADE WALKER CHATTOOGA FLOYD POLK CATOOSA HARALSON CARROLL HEARD TROUP QUITMAN WHITFIELD GORDON PAULDING HARRIS COWETA CHATTA- HOOCHEE STEWART MURRAY BARTOW DOUGLAS MUSCOGEE MERIWETHER WEBSTER FANNIN GILMER PICKENS CHEROKEE COBB FULTON FAYETTE TALBOT MARION PIKE TERRELL RANDOLPH CLAYTON SPALDING UPSON TAYLOR SCHLEY UNION LUMPKIN DAWSON DEKALB SUMTER LEE FORSYTH GWINNETT HENRY LAMAR ROCKDALE BUTTS MACON TOWNS WHITE HALL NEWTON MONROE CRAWFORD PEACH DOOLY RABUN HABERSHAM STEPHENS BANKS FRANKLIN HART JACKSON HOUSTON CRISP BARROW WALTON JASPER BIBB JONES TURNER CLARKE OCONEE MORGAN TWIGGS PULASKI WILCOX PUTNAM MADISON BALDWIN BLECKLEY OGLETHORPE GREENE WILKINSON DODGE BEN HILL ELBERT HANCOCK WILKES TALIAFERRO WARREN WASHINGTON LAURENS TELFAIR LINCOLN McDUFFIE GLASCOCK JOHNSON WHEELER JEFF DAVIS JEFFERSON TREUTLEN MONTGOMERY COLUMBIA EMANUEL TOOMBS APPLING GEORGIA RICHMOND BURKE JENKINS CANDLER TATTNALL EVANS SCREVEN BULLOCH LONG BRYAN LIBERTY EFFINGHAM CHATHAM CLAY CALHOUN IRWIN DOUGHERTY WORTH COFFEE EARLY BAKER MITCHELL MILLER SEMINOLE COLQUITT COOK TIFT BERRIEN ATKINSON DECATUR GRADY THOMAS LOWNDES BROOKS LANIER CLINCH BACON WAYNE McINTOSH PIERCE GLYNN BRANTLEY WARE CHARLTON CAMDEN ECHOLS Background map from Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia. Figure 2: County distribution in Georgia. 3

4 Habitat views. (photo credits Dr. Kim D. Coder) 4

5 Whole plants with flowers. (photo credits Dr. Kim D. Coder) 5

6 Foliage, leaves and flowers. (photo credits Dr. Kim D. Coder) 6

7 Flowers, fruit, and fruit split open. (photo credits Dr. Kim D. Coder) 7

Peanut Production Update

Peanut Production Update Scott Monfort Associate Professor/Extension Peanut Agronomist smonfort@uga.edu, 229 392 5457 Planted Peanut Acres By County Dade Catoosa Towns Fannin Murray Union Whitfield Rabun