Lespedeza leptostachya (Prairie Bush Clover): Minnesota Wildflowers

Lespedeza leptostachya (Prairie Bush Clover)

Plant Info
Also known as:	Prairie Lespedeza, Slender-spike Lespedeza
Genus:	Lespedeza
Family:	Fabaceae (Pea)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	native
Status:	Federally Threatened State Threatened
Habitat:	sun; dry prairies
Bloom season:	July - August
Plant height:	1 to 3 feet
County distribution (click map to enlarge):

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Detailed Information

Flower:

Flowers are loosely borne on slender spikes, 1 to 3 inches long, on a slender hairy stalk arising from leaf axils on the upper stem. Flowers are small and pea-shaped, white to pale pink lips with a reddish throat, ¼ to 1/3 inch long. The calyx holding the flower is about ¼ inch long and densly hairy, with long narrow sharply pointed lobes.

Leaves and stem:

Leaves are compound in groups of 3, on a short stalk. Leaflets are linear to narrowly oblong and of equal size, ¾ to 1¾ inches long, 1/10 to 1/3 inch wide, and toothless. The plant form is slender but stiff and erect, stems minimally branched, all portions covered by short, sparse, velvety hairs (pubescent),

Fruit:

Fruit is a small, flat, oval pod about 1/8 inch long and is densely covered in fine hairs.

Notes:

One of Minnesota's four federally listed plant species, Prairie Bush Clover is endemic to just small regions of Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. While probably never widespread even prior to European settlement, the wholesale loss of prairie habitat quickly pushed this species to the edge. According to the DNR, this species was listed as State Endangered in 1984 and reclassified to Threatened in 1996.

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More photos

Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken in Dakota and Goodhue counties.

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Karine in Lakefield, MN
on: 2011-01-30 10:36:36

Prairie Bush Clover SNA would be a great place to look out for this plant. Unfortunately I never found it when I was there but I've heard of other people finding it. The SNA is very small in Kilen-Woods State Park, but very beautiful prairie in Kilen-Woods State Park where lots of Pasque flower blooms in the spring.

Posted by: Shelley in Cottonwood County
on: 2011-03-18 01:14:08

Jeffers Petroglyphs State Historic Site has a tall grass prairie restoration area (the first in Minnesota) as well as 30 acres of remnant prairie. It is said to have one of the largest populations in Minnesota of the Prairie Bush Clover. You can see a large patch of plants right off the path near the interpretive center. You would never know it was an endangered species by looking at the dense population. The best time to identify it is when it flowers in mid-July. There is a sign to show where the patch is located. Kilen Woods SNA has a very nice section that is under research but it is off the path. Cottonwood River SNA also has areas where the plant is found.