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Drawing copyright Mark Müller
Fabaceae Family - "White Wild Indigo, Large White Wild Indigo. Atlantic Wild Indigo, White False Indigo"
From the Greek baptizein meaning "to dye"; refers to the historical economic use as a poor indigo dye and leucantha, meaning "white-flowered".
Found throughout the Tallgrass Prairie on rich soils leaning toward the damp side. Grows from 2 to 5 feet with 1-inch cream to white colored flowers. Blooms from May to June.
The boiled roots of B. leucantha were used as a treatment for chronic colds. Early settlers sometimes made a decoction of the root as a treatment for scarlet fever, typhus and dysentery. It was occasinally used to serve as an emetic and cathartic. The Meskwaki of Iowa used it to treat sores that wouldn't heal and as a treatment for eczema. Combined with sycamore bark, it served as a treatment for axe or knife wounds and combined with Senega Snakeroot, it served as a treatment for snakebite. A decoction of the leaves was used by some Plains Indians as a stimulant.
At one time, B. leucantha was highly regarded by beekeepers as a source of excellent honey.
