any of several North American leguminous plants of the genus Baptisia, esp B. tinctoria, which has yellow flowers and three-lobed leaves
wild indigo in American English
US
baptisia
wild indigo in American English
noun
any of several plants belonging to the genus Baptisia, of the legume family, esp. B. tinctoria, having yellow flowers
Word origin
[1735–45, Amer.]This word is first recorded in the period 1735–45. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: boxer, butternut, cutoff, tandem, tutorial