Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_00.gif)
Monday - June 07, 2010
From: Nederland , TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: How to distinguish white-flowered Baptisias?
Answered by: Joe Marcus
QUESTION:
How can I tell the difference between Baptisia alba and Baptisia alba var. macrophyllaANSWER:
Since you're located in Texas, if you have a white-flowered Baptisia blooming now, it's almost certainly Baptisia alba var. macrophylla. In general, B. a. var. macrophylla grows larger than the type. Also, the ranges of B. a. var. alba and the similar species, B. albescens, are limited to the Deep South and do not extend west of Mississippi. Another, creamy-white to yellow flowered species, Baptisia bracteata var. leucophaea does occur in Texas, but it flowers in early spring.
More Plant Identification Questions
Identification of Sagittaria-like plant with purple flowers
July 21, 2011 - I have collected a wetland plant that I can't seem to identify. Its an emergent plant collected along with a species of sagittaria. Very similar in leaf structure to an sagittaria or alisima, but i...
view the full question and answer
Want to identify thorny vines growing in Charlotte Hall, MD
April 25, 2013 - I have vines with thorns growing in my wood, vining around the trees and killing them. It grows and vines go up trees of any height all the way to the top. It has green pointy leaves. If it doesn't...
view the full question and answer
Identification of tall plant with five-petaled purple flowers
June 01, 2013 - I recently moved into a house and have a plant near my fence that has purple flowers with five petals and a somewhat thick stem, about a half inch. The leaves are sparse and it grows about four to si...
view the full question and answer
Plant ID from North Carolina
August 16, 2010 - Hi Mr. Smartyplants,
I know that you can identify blue cohash in a neat way: 3 stems which easy branch to 3 more stems which each branch into 3 more and then 3 leaves attached to each. Well, do you...
view the full question and answer
Identification of thorny tree with lemon-like fruit
October 14, 2010 - What would be a small lemon like fruit that grows on a bush with large thorns? The fruit is about the size of a golf ball, kind of fuzzy yellow skin like a lemon and smells like a cross between an or...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |