Baptisia lanceolata (Walter) Elliott var. tomentosa (Larisey) Isley

Tomentose Gopherweed

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Tomentose Gopherweed is a native herbaceous perennial in the Bean family (Fabaceae). It is native to the southern-most counties in the state. Tomentose Gopherweed occurs in sand hills, in Longleaf pine woods, in scrub oak woods, and on roadsides. It is a perennial with a stout taproot. One or more erect stems is produced from each root stock. The stems are branched, green or purple in color, and pubescent or glabrous. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, trifoliate, and pubescent. The leaflets are obovate to elliptic in outline with entire margins. The leaves are often held in a manner so that the leaf surface is parallel to the direct rays of the sun during mid-day. Flowers are produced in erect terminal or axillary racemes. The flowers are papilionaceous and a bright clear yellow color. Flowers that are damaged turn black. The fruit is an inflated legume. After the fruit mature the entire plant dries out. It often breaks off at ground level and acts somewhat like a tumbleweed.--A. Diamond

**

Native

**