ROUND-HEADED BUSH CLOVER
Lespedeza capitata
BEAN FAMILY (Fabaceae)
Description
Identification
- Flowering time - July, August, September
- Common in prairie restorations at NW
- Round pale green seed heads
- Silvery leaflets in groups of 3
- Mature brown seed heads persisting through the winter
This native, erect perennial grows 2-6 feet tall. Its alternate, compound leaves have 3 elongate-oval leaflets covered with silky hairs, giving them a silvery cast (C.D,E). Inconspicuous pea-like, white to greenish-white flowers with a purple throat are grouped in round, pale green heads 1 inch in diameter (B). The heads, containing many single seeded pods, turn brown as they mature (C). This erect plant with its persistent brown seed heads is a prominent winter feature of our prairies (F).
Upland prairies, flowering from July through September. It is common in all prairies at Neale Woods.
The rounded heads are the likely origin of the Pawnee name for this plant which is “Rabbit Foot.” It is a very nutritious and desirable forage plant.
Other common names include Round-headed Lespedeza and Dusty Clover.
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