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Fabaceae
Lespedeza

not marked as a favorite taxon Lespedeza capitata Michaux. Common name: Bush-clover, Round-headed Lespedeza. Phenology: Aug-Oct; Sep-Nov. Habitat: Woodlands and woodland borders, wet meadows, fens, prairies, barrens. Distribution: Maine and s. Ontario west to Minnesota, South Dakota, and Nebraska, south to Florida Panhandle and Texas.

Glossary (beta!)

Subgenus: Lespedeza. Section: Lespedezariae. clade: D.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Can, Fl3, FNA11.1, GrPl, K1, 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 Torrey & 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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image #1 of Lespedeza capitata© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Lespedeza capitata© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Lespedeza capitata© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Lespedeza capitata© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Lespedeza capitata© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #7 of Lespedeza capitata© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #9 of Lespedeza capitata© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

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.

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: