Sericea Lespedeza

Common Name: Sericea Lespedeza

Other Names: Sericea, Chinese Bush Clover, Chinese Lespedeza

Species Name: Lespedeza cuneata

Plant Type: Legume

Family Name: Fabaceae, Pea Family

Plant Facts
Origin	Eastern Asia and Australia
Duration	Perennial
Distribution in the U.S.	Eastern half from Eastern Nebraska, Kansas and Texas
Distribution in Oklahoma	Throughout the state

ID Characteristics

Field Identification Characteristics
Vegetative
- Long stems; woody when mature
- Branching at base, bush-like compared to L. capitata or L. virginica
- Numerous small leaves, 3 leaflets per leaf
- Leaf veins appear to be linear and continue all the way to leaf edges
Floral
- Flowers tucked among leaves; white or cream in color
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
- Leaf Type: Compound, 1-pinnately
- Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
- Leaf Shape: Cuneate
- Stipules: Present
Floral Characteristics
- Petal Number: 5, fused
- Flower Color: White or yellow-cream with purple throats
- Flower Timing: July-October
- Fruit Type: Legumes

Habitat/Ecology
Soil Type	Clay and silt loams
Habitat	Open woods, old fields and along roads in other disturbed areas
Successional Stage	Early, but invades all stages

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