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Lespedeza cuneata (Dum. Cours.) G. Don

Silky bush clover, Chinese bush clover, Chinese lespedeza, perennial lespedeza, sericea lespedeza

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassRosidaeRoses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
OrderFabalesLegumes (pea and bean families)
FamilyFabaceaeLegume family (peas and beans)
GenusLespedezaFor Cespedez, Spanish governor of east Flordia in late 18th century
SpeciescuneataWedge-shaped

About plant names...

Silky bush clover is a native of China, Korea, Japan, Formosa, and Himalayas. It was introduced to North America in the 1800s, originally to reclaim rapidly eroding soils. It is now widespread and, in most areas, invasive.

Identification: Plants are 3-6′ (91-182 cm) in height, with one or several upright-reaching sericeous stems that have stiff, flattened bristles. These look like woody perennials, but they are annuals. Leaves are alternate, closely spaced, covered with dense, flattened hairs, in clusters of three, obovate, narrowly obovate, or oblanceolate, each ⅛-⅞″ (5-25 mm) long, with wedge-shaped leaf bases and rounded ends with a sharp, hairlike tip. They are attached via very short petioles. Flowers are cream-colored, bilaterally symmetrical, with purple throats, appearing from July to September. Fruits are flat to round pods with a single seed, 1/16-3/16″ (3-5 mm) long, with hairs flattened against the fruit.

Online References:

The Bugwood Wiki

Missouriplants.com

Illinois Wildflowers

The Plant Conservation Alliance’s Alien Plant Working Group Least Wanted List

Www.texasinvasives.org

Invasive.org, Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health

HEAR: the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project

Lespedeza cuneata (Dum. Cours.) G. Don var. serpens (Nakai) Ohwi

Lespedeza juncea (L. f.) Pers. var. sericea Maxim.

Lespedeza latissima (Matsum.) Nakai

Lespedeza sericea Miq., nom. illeg.

Lespedeza serpens Nakai

 

Lespedeza cuneata description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 7 Sep 2023.

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Lespedeza cuneata (silky bush clover, Chinese bush clover, Chinese lespedeza, perennial lespedeza, sericea lespedeza)

8/31/2013 · Riverside Park, James River, Midlothian, Virginia · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 10 cm)

Lespedeza cuneata (silky bush clover, Chinese bush clover, Chinese lespedeza, perennial lespedeza, sericea lespedeza)

8/31/2013 · Riverside Park, James River, Midlothian, Virginia · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 16 cm)

Lespedeza cuneata (silky bush clover, Chinese bush clover, Chinese lespedeza, perennial lespedeza, sericea lespedeza)

8/31/2013 · Riverside Park, James River, Midlothian, Virginia · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm)

Range:

About this map...