Sericea Lespedeza

[Lespedeza cuneata (Dum. - Cours.) G. Don.]

Fabaceae (Bean Family)

▲  seedling

▲ young plants from crowns in spring

▲ young plants just before flowering

▲ upper stem branching and trifoliate leaves with narrow leaflets

▲ ▼  white flowers along upper branches, held close to stems

▲ close-up of flowers

Sericea lespedeza: (pp. 306-307, Weeds of the Great Plain—not in Weeds of the Northeast)

·         another introduced lespedeza used for soil stabilization on banks and roadsides

·         produces wiry, straight stems that grow 1-4' tall; gray-green, small trifoliate leaves

·         flowers are small, white in the axils of the leaves

·         reproduces abundantly from seed

·         rapid development of a fibrous stem makes it not as desirable for grazing

·         can be a problem in pastures, but more in wildland areas