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Blue Wild Indigo

Fabaceae Family - "Blue Wild Indigo"

From the Greek baptizein meaning "to dye"; refers to the historical economic use as a poor indigo dye and "Australis", of Australia.

Found on prairies throughout the Tallgrass region, this species is the more southerly occurring, found in glades and and dry prairies. Normally reaches about 1 foot in height but favorable conditions can yield 3 foot plants. Blooms from May to June.

Native American uses include use as a dye and to treats cuts and scrapes. The Pawnee used this species by pulverizing the seeds and mixing the resulting powder with buffalo fat to treat colic by rubbing the salve on the abdomen.