Blue Wild Indigo
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| Baptisia australis Hort. ex Lehm. |
Blue Wild Indigo (Baptisia australis), also known as Blue False Indigo is a herbaceous plant. It is a perennial which can reach 150cm in height. It is wild and found in many different places. It is tall, growing 4-6 feet. The foliage is grey-green. The leaves are divided into clover-like leaflets that are obovate (wider at the tips). Flower spikes appear in June. The upright racemes have deep blue to violet flowers similar to sweet pea that are to 1 inch in size. Baptisia is considered a good flower for arrangements. The sap of Baptisia turns purple when exposed to air. The fruit is bluish-black, oblong, ending in a sharp tip, and is about 1 1/2-2 inches long. This seed pod yields a blue dye similar to true indigo but not as valuable. The seeds are yellow-brown, kidney shaped and about 2 mm in size. The seeds rattle in the pod, hence the common name rattleweed. The pods are good in dried arrangements. The root is woody and blackish in color.
The genus name is from the Greek baptizein meaning "to dye." The common names of this plant are Blue False Indigo, Indigo Weed, Rattleweed, Rattlebush, Horse Fly Weed. Baptisia has been used as a substitute for true indigo dye. Eliza Lucas was the first to bring any kind of indigo to America.
B. australis likes lime free, dry or stony soil in full sun to part shade. It may escape some gardens and can be found growing wild in rich, light woods and along streams. Hardy in zones 3-8. False blue indigo may be propagated by seed or cuttings.
[edit] Uses
Baptisia has been used as an antiseptic, anti-catarrhal, febrifuge,and stimulant purgative. This plant is said to stimulate immune responses to infection, and is used for ear, nose and throat problems, laryngitis, tonsillitis, as a wash for mouth ulcers, and a douche for leucorrhea. Baptisia is considered toxic. Do not use this plant unless under the supervision of a trained qualified practitioner. It is not for long term use and not to be used if pregnant. The bark of the root is harvested in autumn. The leaves may be harvested anytime.
Native Americans used root tea of False blue indigo as an emetic and purgative. A cold tea was given to stop vomiting, a root poultice used as an anti-inflammatory, and bits of the root were held in the mouth to treat toothaches. Baptisia species are being investigated for use as a potential stimulant of the immune system. A decoction of stems has been used for pneumonia, tuberculosis and influenza, tips of stems combined with twigs of the Utah juniper, Juniperus osteosperma, have been used as a kidney medicine. Baptisia has also been used as a tea (tisane) for smallpox and externally as a cleansing wash. Trials using the extract of Baptisia to treat typhoid fever were made in the early 19th century. Current uses for this plant include: infection of upper respiratory tract, common cold, tonsillitis, stomatitis, inflammation of mucous membrane, fever, ointment for painless ulcers, inflamed nipples. Over-medicating will produce vomiting, diarrhea, gastrointestinal complaints, and spasms due toquinolizidine alkaloid content.
Wild blue indigo is said to repel flies when kept near farm animals. Hang a bunch of Baptisia off the tack of a working animal.
This plant is used in Witchcraft in spells or rituals of protection. Keep a leaf in your pocket or add to an amulet for protection.
[edit] References
- Pink, A. (2004). Gardening for the Million.. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.
- Harvey Wickes Felter, M.D., and John Uri Lloyd, Phr. M., Ph. D., (1898).King's American Dispensatory.
- Blanchan, Neltje (2005). Wild Flowers Worth Knowing. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.
