Lespedeza capitata Michaux. Subgenus: Lespedeza. Section: Lespedezariae. clade: D. Common name: Bush-clover, Round-headed Lespedeza. Phenology: Aug-Oct; Sep-Nov. Habitat: Woodlands and woodland borders, wet meadows, fens, prairies, barrens. Distribution: ME and s. ON west to MN, SD, and NE, south to FL Panhandle and TX.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Can, Fl3, FNA11.1, GrPl, K4, Mi, Mo3, NcTx, NE, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, RAB, S, S13, SE3, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3, Clewell (1966a), Clewell (1966b), Isely (1998); > Lespedeza capitata Michx. var. capitata — F, G, Il, WV; > Lespedeza capitata Michx. var. stenophylla Bissell & Fernald — F, G, Il, WV; > Lespedeza capitata Michx. var. velutina (E.P.Bicknell) Fernald — F, G; > Lespedeza capitata Michx. var. vulgaris Torr. & A.Gray — F, Il, WV. Basionym: Lespedeza capitata Michx. 1803
Links to other floras: = Lespedeza capitata - FNA11.1
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Great Plains: UPL
- Midwest: FACU
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU
Heliophily ⓘ: 8
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© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial found in woodlands and woodland borders, wet meadows, fens and prairies.
Stems: Stems 1-several; stiff; branched above; smooth below; covered with dense, closely pressed silvery hairs above.
Leaves: Leaves alternate; on petioles with needle-like stipules that soon drop; divided into 3 narrowly elliptic to oblong leaflets, each 3/4-1 1/4 in. long, with a blunt tip and usually covered with dense, closely pressed, silvery hairs.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in dense, nearly spherical racemes from upper leaf axils, the raceme stalks longer than leaves; yellowish-white; less than 1/2 in. long; bilaterally symmetric and with typical pea-flower shape, the banner petal bearing a central purple spot.
Fruits: Fruit a hairy, flattened, elliptical pod with a short point and bearing a single seed.
Comments:
Height: 1 1/2-5 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial found in woodlands and woodland borders, wet meadows, fens and prairies.
stems: Stems 1-several; stiff; branched above; smooth below; covered with dense, closely pressed silvery hairs above.
leaves: Leaves alternate; on petioles with needle-like stipules that soon drop; divided into 3 narrowly elliptic to oblong leaflets, each 3/4-1 1/4 in. long, with a blunt tip and usually covered with dense, closely pressed, silvery hairs.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in dense, nearly spherical racemes from upper leaf axils, the raceme stalks longer than leaves; yellowish-white; less than 1/2 in. long; bilaterally symmetric and with typical pea-flower shape, the banner petal bearing a central purple spot.
fruits: Fruit a hairy, flattened, elliptical pod with a short point and bearing a single seed.
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cultural notes:
germination code:
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