Slender bush clover is a bushy perennial plant, usually unbranched, that curves under the weight of its own foliage.
The flowers are on very short stalks arising from the leaf axils, in small clusters along middle and upper stem, small, pink, and pea flower-shaped.
Blooms May–September.
The leaves are alternate, profuse, 3-divided, narrow-linear, short, with a pointed tip and forward-pressed hairs.
The fruits are pods.
Height: stems to 3 feet.
Statewide, except extreme northwestern Missouri.
Habitat and Conservation
Occurs in dry, open woods, prairies, fields, streamsides, roadsides, and railroads.
Status
Native Missouri wildflower.
Human Connections
The name Lespedeza was an attempt to honor a late 1700s Spanish governor of Florida, Vincente Manuel de Céspedes. Botanist André Michaux's notes were apparently mistranscribed in the publication process as "Lespedez." Taxonomic rules prohibit "correcting" names once published.
Ecosystem Connections
The seeds are eaten by birds, including quail and turkey.
Deer, rabbits, woodchuck, and livestock graze on the foliage.
A variety of long-tongued insects consume nectar, pollen, or both from the flowers.
Many insects eat the foliage, flowers, fruits, or other parts of the plant, and in turn become food for insect-eating birds, mammals, reptiles, spiders, and other predators.
Like other legumes, this plant enriches the soil with nitrogen.
