Baptisia simplicifolia

Baptisia simplicifolia occurs in a very restricted range in the southeastern United States that is limited to the eastern panhandle of Florida. It is locally abundant and the majority of populations occur on protected land. The most likely and pervasive threat to the species is fire exclusion while excessive soil disturbance from forestry operations may also endanger populations.

Baptisia simplicifolia is endemic to Florida in the southeastern United States. It occurs in Liberty, Leon, Wakulla and Franklin counties of the eastern panhandle. Range extent was calculated at 3,962 sq km using occurrences maintained by the Florida Natural Areas Inventory and photo based observations from iNaturalist (NatureServe 2022, iNaturalist 2022).

Although there are 237 occurrences in the Florida Natural Areas Inventory rare plant database, FNAI stopped tracking this species in 2012 and several occurrences would be merged under a standard 1km separation distance guideline, so this is an overestimation. However, even with the revision of occurrence boundaries, there are additional occurrences based on herbarium and photo based records (iNaturalist 2022, GBIF 2022). The number of occurrences is likely about 180-250.

Fire exclusion in its fire-dependent mesic flatwoods habitat is probably the greatest threat facing the species. Soil disturbance from forestry operations would also negatively impact this species. In the minority of cases where this species is not found on protected and managed lands, development is also a threat.Can tolerate clear-cutting and prescribed burning but information about effects on population size is not available; not tolerant of severe soil disturbance.