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Plant Profile  
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Common Name: Roundhead Lespedeza

Other Names: Roundhead Bush Clover

Species Name: Lespedeza capitata

Plant Type: Legume

Family Name: Fabaceae, Pea Family

 

 

 

 

Plant Facts  
Origin Native
Duration Perennial
Distribution in the U.S. Eastern half of the U.S. up to South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Texas
Distribution in Oklahoma Throughout the state, other than the Ouachita Mountains

 

 

ID Characteristics

  • Field Identification Characteristics

    Vegetative

    • Long stems unbranched below and highly branched above
    • Loaf stem (petiole) shorter than the branch of the middle leaflet
    • Leaves broader than L. cuneata or L. virginica
    • Veins of leaves curve away from leaf edge back to midrib in oval pattern

    Floral

    • Flower heads clustered at top
    • Flowers white with purple throats
    • Seed heads dark brown in the upper parts of branches with shaggy appearance
  • Leaf and Stem Characteristics
    • Leaf Type: Compound, 1-pinnately 
    • Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
    • Leaf Shape: Elliptic or oblong
    • Stipules: Present
  • Floral Characteristics
    • Petal Number: 5, fused
    • Flower Color: White with purple throats
    • Flower Timing: June-September
    • Fruit Type: (Flat) legumes

 

 

Habitat/Ecology  
Soil Type Various, well-drained soils
Habitat Open woods, moist sites such as floodplains
Successional Stage Late

 

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