Genus: Lespedeza — bush-clover
Hybrids can form between species of Lespedeza. This happens most often when two or more species grow together in large populations. You can spot the hybrids by looking for several clues. If one of the two species has a spreading growth form and the other one is upright, look for plants with stems that are gradually ascending. If a white-flowered and a purple-flowered species grow together, look for individuals with pink flowers. If all of the species growing together are native, look for plants with mature fruits that are about one and a half times the length of the calyx. This is because all of our native species either have short fruits as long as the calyx, or fruits that are at least twice as long. References: Clewell (1966), Raveill (2006).
Family
Fabaceae (bean or legume family)
This genus’s species in New England
- Lespedeza angustifolia
- Lespedeza bicolor
- Lespedeza capitata
- Lespedeza cuneata
- Lespedeza cyrtobotrya
- Lespedeza frutescens
- Lespedeza hirta
- Lespedeza procumbens
- Lespedeza repens
- Lespedeza stuevei
- Lespedeza thunbergii
- Lespedeza violacea
- Lespedeza virginica
Visit this genus in the Dichotomous Key