''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the

pea family The Fabaceae or Leguminosae,International Code of Nomenc ...

(Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly

East Asian East Asia is the eastern region of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The modern states of East Asia include China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan. China, North Korea, South Korea a ...

species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm temperate to

subtropical The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical zone, geographical and Köppen climate classification, climate zones to the Northern Hemisphere, north and Southern Hemisphere, south of the tropics. Geographically part of the Geographical z ...

regions of eastern

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

, eastern and southern Asia and Australasia. These shrubby plants or trailing vines belong to the "typical"

legume A legume () is a plant in the family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), or the fruit or seed of such a plant. When used as a dry grain, the seed is also called a pulse. Legumes are grown agriculturally, primarily for human consumption, for livestock f ...

s ( Faboideae), with the peas and beans, though they are part of another tribe, the Desmodieae. Therein, they are treated as type genus of the smaller

subtribe Subtribe is a taxonomic category ranking which is below the rank of tribe and above genus. The standard suffix for a subtribe is -ina (in animals) or -inae (in plants Plants are predominantly photosynthetic eukaryotes of the kingdom Plant ...

Lespedezinae, which unites the present genus and its presumed closest relatives, ''

Campylotropis ''Campylotropis'' is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. It belongs to the subfamily Faboideae and consists of a number of species of perennials native to Nepal, China, Korea and Taiwan. Species *'' Campylotropis chin ...

'' and ''

Kummerowia ''Kummerowia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. It belongs to the subfamily Faboideae. These plants were formerly in genus '' Lespedeza''.Gucker, C. L. 2010''Kummerowia stipulacea'', ''K. striata''.In: Fire Effects ...

''.

Name of the plant

According to American botanist

Asa Gray Asa Gray (November 18, 1810 – January 30, 1888) is considered the most important American botanist of the 19th century. His ''Darwiniana'' was considered an important explanation of how religion and science were not necessarily mutually excl ...

(1810 – 1888), the ''Lespedeza'' owes its name to governor of East Florida

Vicente Manuel de Céspedes Vicente Manuel de Céspedes (1721?-1794),Cahoon, Ben also known as Vicente Manuel de Zéspedes, was a Spanish colonel and field marshal in the Spanish Royal Army who served as governor of Santiago de Cuba (1781-1782) and the Spanish province of Ea ...

(1784-1790; who, through a letter, allowed botanist André Michaux to explore East Florida in search of new species of plants, where Michaux found Lespedeza), but when Céspedes wrote the letter, at the beginning of it, the name of Céspedes was changed to "Zespedez". So, when Michaux's book ''Flora Boreali-Americana'' of 1802 was printed, the name "Céspedes" to refer to the plant was written as "Lespedez", the word from which the current name of the plant was derived.Lespedeza – From Asia with a Spanish Twist!
''Despeleza'' is a synonym of ''Lespedeza'', and this name is derived from a taxonomic anagram.

Cultivation and uses

Some species are grown as garden or ornamental plants, and are used as a forage crops, notably in the southern United States, and as a means of soil enrichment and for prevention of erosion. In some areas, certain species are

invasive Invasive may refer to: *Invasive (medical) procedure *Invasive species *Invasive observation, especially in reference to surveillance *Invasively progressive spread of disease from one organ in the body to another, especially in reference to cancer ...

. ''Lespedeza'', like other

s, have

root nodule Root nodules are found on the roots of plants, primarily legumes, that form a symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Under nitrogen-limiting conditions, capable plants form a symbiotic relationship with a host-specific strain of bacteria known a ...

s that harbor bacteria capable of nitrogen fixation from the air into a soil-bound form that can be taken up by other plants. Growers can take advantage of this process by putting the plants in their fields to release nitrogen, so they can use less fertilizer. '' L. bicolor'' leaves and roots contain l-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine ( lespedamin), as well as related N^ω,N^ω- dimethyltryptamines and their oxides, as well as some bufotenin.

Species

The species and nothospecies recognized in ''Lespedeza'' include: * ''

Lespedeza angustifolia ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm te ...

'' (Pursh) Elliott * ''

Lespedeza × angustifolioides ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm ...

'' T.B.Lee * '' Lespedeza bicolor'' Turcz. (syn. ''L. bicolor'' var. ''japonica'' Nakai) – shrub lespedeza * ''

Lespedeza buergeri ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm te ...

'' Miq. * ''

Lespedeza capitata ''Lespedeza capitata'' is a species of flowering plant in the Fabaceae, or legume family, and is known by the common name roundhead bushclover, or roundhead lespedeza.

'' Michx. (syn. ''L. frutescens'' Elliott, ''L. stuevei'' DC.) * ''

Lespedeza caraganae ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm ...

'' Bunge * ''

Lespedeza chinensis ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm te ...

'' G.Don * ''

Lespedeza cuneata ''Lespedeza cuneata'' is a species of flowering plant in the Fabaceae, legume family known by the common names Chinese bushclover and sericea lespedeza, or just sericea.Gucker, Corey. (2010) (Revised from Munger, Gregory T., 2004)''Lespedeza cune ...

'' (Dumont-Cours.) G. Don (syn ''Lespedeza sericea'') * ''

Lespedeza cyrtobotrya ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm te ...

'' Miq. – leafy lespedeza * ''

Lespedeza cyrtobuergeri ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm te ...

'' Akiyama & H.Ohba * ''

Lespedeza davidii ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm ...

'' Franch. * ''

Lespedeza davurica ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm ...

'' (Laxm.) Schindl. * ''

Lespedeza × divaricata ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to war ...

'' (Nakai) T.B.Lee * ''

Lespedeza dunnii ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm ...

'' Schindl. * ''

Lespedeza elegans ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm te ...

'' Cambess. * ''

Lespedeza elliptica ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm te ...

'' Benth. * ''

Lespedeza fasciculiflora ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to war ...

'' Franch. * ''

Lespedeza floribunda ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm te ...

'' Bunge (syn. ''L. bicolor'' Prain) * ''

Lespedeza fordii ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm ...

'' Schindl. * ''

Lespedeza forrestii ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm te ...

'' Schindl. * ''

Lespedeza gerardiana ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm te ...

'' Maxim. * ''

Lespedeza hirta ''Lespedeza hirta'', the hairy lespedeza or hairy bush clover, is a perennial forb native to Ontario and the eastern United States. It grows at most three feet high. It has inconspicuous small white blooms in the summer and prefers average to dr ...

'' (L.) Hornem. ** ''Lespedeza hirta'' ssp. ''curtissii'' Clewell (syn. ''L. hirta'' Elliott) * ''

Lespedeza homoloba ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm te ...

'' Nakai * ''

Lespedeza inschanica ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm te ...

'' (Maxim.) Schindl. – greenish juncea lespedeza * '' Lespedeza intermedia'' (S.Watson) Britton (syn. ''L. frutescens'' (L.) Britton, ''L. frutescens'' var. ''acutifructa'' Farw.) * ''

Lespedeza intermixta ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm te ...

'' Makino (possibly a hybrid) – neonchul lespedeza * ''

Lespedeza japonica ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm te ...

'' L.H.Bailey * ''

Lespedeza juncea ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm te ...

'' (L.f.) Pers. – juncea lespedeza ** ''Lespedeza juncea'' var. ''sericea'' (Thunb.) Lace & Hauech (syn. ''L. cuneata'' (Dum.Cours.) G.Don) * ''

Lespedeza junghuhniana ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm te ...

'' Bakh.f. * ''

Lespedeza kagoshimensis ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm ...

'' Hatus. * ''

Lespedeza leptostachya ''Lespedeza leptostachya'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the legume family known by the common names prairie lespedeza and prairie bush-clover. It occurs in the Upper Midwest region of the United States. The flowers are creamy-white to ...

'' A.Gray * ''

Lespedeza maximowiczii ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm te ...

'' R.C.Schneid. – Korean lespedeza * ''

Lespedeza melanantha ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm ...

'' Nakai – black-flower lespedeza * ''

Lespedeza mucronata ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm te ...

'' Ricker * ''

Lespedeza × patentibicolor ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm te ...

'' T.B.Lee * ''

Lespedeza pilosa ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm te ...

'' (Thunb.) Siebold & Zucc. – pilose lespedeza * ''

Lespedeza potaninii ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm te ...

'' Vassilcz. * ''

Lespedeza procumbens ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm ...

'' Michx. * ''

Lespedeza pubescens ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm ...

'' Hayata * ''

Lespedeza repens Lespedeza repens, common names creeping lespedeza, creeping bush-clover, and trailing lespedeza, is a plant native to the United States. It is listed as a species of special concern in Connecticut and as rare in New York New York most commonly ...

'' (L.) W.P.C.Barton * ''

Lespedeza × simulata ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm te ...

'' Mack. & Bush * ''

Lespedeza speciosa ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm te ...

'' Maxim. * ''

Lespedeza stuevei ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm te ...

'' Nutt. * ''

Lespedeza texana ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm te ...

'' Britton * '' Lespedeza thunbergii'' (DC.) Nakai (syn. ''L. elliptica'' Maxim., ''L. formosa'' (Vogel) Koehne, ''L. formosa'' ssp. ''elliptica'' (Maxim.) Akiyama & H.Ohba) ** ''Lespedeza thunbergii'' var. ''var.'' thunbergii (DC.)Nakai (syn. ''L. patens'' Nakai, ''L. patens'' var. ''obtusifolia'' Nakai) ** ''Lespedeza thunbergii'' var. ''velutina'' (Nakai) H.Ohashi (syn. ''L. intermedia'' Nakai, ''L. intermedia'' var. ''angustifolia'' Nakai) * ''

Lespedeza tomentosa ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm ...

'' (Thunb.) Maxim. (syn. ''L. hirta'' Miq.) – woolly lespedeza * ''

Lespedeza violacea ''Lespedeza violacea'', commonly known as wand lespedeza or violet lespedeza, is a species of herbaceous plant in the legume family. It is native to eastern North America, where it is widespread. It is found in woodlands, savannas, prairies, an ...

'' (L.) Pers. * ''

Lespedeza virgata ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm te ...

'' (Murray) DC. – Wando lespedeza * ''

Lespedeza virginica ''Lespedeza virginica'', known as slender bush clover or slender lespedeza, is a species of flowering plant native to much of the United States, as well as Ontario, Canada, and Nuevo León, Mexico. It is a member of the bean family, Fabaceae. D ...

'' (L.) Britton (syn. ''L. angustifolia'' Darl.) * ''

Lespedeza wilfordii ''Lespedeza'' is a genus of some 40 species (including nothospecies) of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers (''hagi''). The genus is native to warm te ...

'' Ricker The identity and specific validity of '' L. schindleri'' is unclear. In addition, there are some species formerly in this genus that are now placed elsewhere, typically in the Lespedezinae, for example, in genus ''

''. These include:ILDIS (2005) * ''Lespedeza speciosa'' Schindl. = ''

Campylotropis speciosa ''Campylotropis'' is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. It belongs to the subfamily Faboideae and consists of a number of species of perennials native to Nepal, China, Korea and Taiwan. Species *''Campylotropis chinen ...

'' (Schindl.) Schindl. * ''Lespedeza striata'' (Thunb.) Hook. & Arn. = '' Kummerowia striata'' (Thunb.) Schindl. * ''Lespedeza tomentosa'' Maxim. = '' Campylotropis pinetorum'' (Kurz) Schindl.

Footnotes

References

* International Legume Database & Information Service (ILDIS) (2005)
Genus ''Lespedeza''
Version 10.01, November 2005. Retrieved 2011-FEB-18. * Morimoto, Hiroshi & Matsumoto, Norichika (1966). Über Alkaloide, VI. Inhaltsstoffe ''Lespedeza bicolor'' var. ''japonica'', II. Alkaloid contents of ''L. bicolor'' var. ''japonica'' II."'' J. Liebigs Ann. Chem.'' 682(1): 212–218 n German * Morimoto, Hiroshi & Oshio, Haruji (1965). Über Alkaloide, V. Inhaltsstoffe von ''Lespedeza bicolor'' var. ''japonica'', I. Über Lespedamin, ein neues Alkaloid. Alkaloid contents of ''L. bicolor'' var. ''japonica'' I. On Lespedamin, a novel alkaloid."'' J. Liebigs Ann. Chem.'' 682(1): 212–218 n German

External links

* *
''Sericea in conservation farming''
a freely readable informational booklet scan hosted by the University of North Texas Digital Library
''Lespedeza bicolor''
at the National Resources Conservation Service. Contains information, images, and a map of its North American distribution. {{Authority control Fabaceae genera