Lespedeza virginica, known as slender bush clover or slender lespedeza, is a species of flowering plant native to much of the United States, as well as Ontario, Canada,[3] and Nuevo León, Mexico.[4]: 8–9 It is a member of the bean family, Fabaceae.
Lespedeza virginica is an herbaceous, perennial legume.[5] It can grow to be up to 2.5 feet tall. Slender bush clover has trifoliate compound leaves and slender primary petioles, with the stem covered in small white hairs. Its alternate leaves are dark green, though sometimes appear pale. The flowers are pink and have a broad upper petal with two side petals.[6] Flowers produced are either cleistogamous or chasmogamous.[7] Slender bush clover flowers from July to September and sets seed from September to October.[7]L. virginica grows well in environments with full to partial sun and can grow successfully in rocky or sandy soils. It produces a taproot to assist in establishment.
Distribution and habitatedit
Lespedeza virginica is found from Maine south to Florida, west to Texas and north to Michigan as well as in Eastern Canada.[3]L. virginica prefers drier habitats, but can be found in prairies, rocky and sandy forests, savannas and environments with high drainage such as roadsides.[6]
Disjunct populations are found in Nuevo León, Mexico, central Wisconsin and southern Minnesota.[4]: 8–9
Ecologyedit
Lespedeza virginica is eaten by a wide variety of wildlife. It is a large part of the bobwhite quail's diet as well as deer and other ground birds. The seeds are eaten as well as the leaves. Nectar and pollen are eaten by various long-tongued insects such as butterflies and bees.[6]
Scarification of the testa is reportedly necessary for germination, suggesting that consumption of seeds by animals is important in the plant's life cycle.[4]: 16 [8]
Conservationedit
Lespedeza virginica is listed as threatened in Wisconsin[9] and endangered in New Hampshire [10] and Ontario.[11]
L. virginica is an endangered species of Canada under the Species at Risk Act.[12] It is found there only in the Ojibway Prairie Complex in southern Ontario amongst tallgrass prairie and savanna habitats. It is threatened by changes to patterns of habitat disturbance, with lack of requisite open areas, and by competition with invasive species, notably crownvetch.[4]
Referencesedit
^NatureServe (1 September 2023). "Lespedeza virginica". NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
^ abcdCOSEWIC (2013). COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report on the Slender Bush-clover Lespedeza virginica in Canada (PDF) (Report). Ottawa: Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
^ abSchutzenhofer, Michele R. "The Effect of Herbivory on the Mating System of Congeneric Native and ExoticSpecies." International Journal of Plant Sciences 168.7 (2007): 1021-026. Web.
^Clewell, Andre F. (1966). Natural history, cytology, and isolating mechanisms of the native American Lespedezas. Bulletin of Tall Timbers Research Station. Tallahassee, Florida: Tall Timbers Research Station. LCCN 68000241. No. 6.
^"Slender Bush Clover (Lespedeza virginica) - Wisconsin DNR". dnr.wi.gov.
^"Rare Plant List | Reports | NH Division of Forests and Lands". www.nh.gov.
^"Appendix P: Endangered, threatened and vulnerable species in Ontario". www.ontario.ca.
^"Slender Bush-clover (Lespedeza virginica)". Species at risk public registry. Government of Canada. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
May 07, 2024
lespedeza, virginica, known, slender, bush, clover, slender, lespedeza, species, flowering, plant, native, much, united, states, well, ontario, canada, nuevo, león, mexico, member, bean, family, fabaceae, virginia, united, states, conservation, status, secure,. Lespedeza virginica known as slender bush clover or slender lespedeza is a species of flowering plant native to much of the United States as well as Ontario Canada 3 and Nuevo Leon Mexico 4 8 9 It is a member of the bean family Fabaceae Lespedeza virginica In Virginia United States Conservation status Secure NatureServe 1 Scientific classification Kingdom Plantae Clade Tracheophytes Clade Angiosperms Clade Eudicots Clade Rosids Order Fabales Family Fabaceae Subfamily Faboideae Genus Lespedeza Species L virginica Binomial name Lespedeza virginica L Britton 1893 Synonyms 2 Synonymy Hedysarum junceum Walter 1788 sensu auct Hedysarum reticulatum Muhl ex Willd 1803 Hedysarum sessiliflorum Poir 1805 Lespedeza angustifolia Darl 1826 nom illeg Lespedeza reticulata Pers 1807 Lespedeza reticulata var angustifolia Darl Maxim 1873 Lespedeza reticulata var sessiliflora Maxim 1873 nom superfl Lespedeza reticulata var virginica L MacMill 1892 nom superfl Lespedeza sessiliflora Michx 1803 nom superfl Lespedeza violacea var angustifolia Darl Torr amp A Gray 1840 Lespedeza violacea var reticulata Muhl ex Willd G Don 1832 Lespedeza violacea var sessiliflora Poir G Don 1832 Lespedeza violacea var sessiliflora Torr amp A Gray 1840 nom illeg Lespedeza virginica f deamii M Hopkins 1935 Lespedeza virginica var sessiliflora Schindl 1913 not validly publ Lespedeza virginica var typica Schindl 1913 not validly publ Medicago virginica L 1753 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Ecology 4 Conservation 5 ReferencesDescription editLespedeza virginica is an herbaceous perennial legume 5 It can grow to be up to 2 5 feet tall Slender bush clover has trifoliate compound leaves and slender primary petioles with the stem covered in small white hairs Its alternate leaves are dark green though sometimes appear pale The flowers are pink and have a broad upper petal with two side petals 6 Flowers produced are either cleistogamous or chasmogamous 7 Slender bush clover flowers from July to September and sets seed from September to October 7 L virginica grows well in environments with full to partial sun and can grow successfully in rocky or sandy soils It produces a taproot to assist in establishment Distribution and habitat editLespedeza virginica is found from Maine south to Florida west to Texas and north to Michigan as well as in Eastern Canada 3 L virginica prefers drier habitats but can be found in prairies rocky and sandy forests savannas and environments with high drainage such as roadsides 6 Disjunct populations are found in Nuevo Leon Mexico central Wisconsin and southern Minnesota 4 8 9 Ecology editLespedeza virginica is eaten by a wide variety of wildlife It is a large part of the bobwhite quail s diet as well as deer and other ground birds The seeds are eaten as well as the leaves Nectar and pollen are eaten by various long tongued insects such as butterflies and bees 6 Scarification of the testa is reportedly necessary for germination suggesting that consumption of seeds by animals is important in the plant s life cycle 4 16 8 Conservation editLespedeza virginica is listed as threatened in Wisconsin 9 and endangered in New Hampshire 10 and Ontario 11 L virginica is an endangered species of Canada under the Species at Risk Act 12 It is found there only in the Ojibway Prairie Complex in southern Ontario amongst tallgrass prairie and savanna habitats It is threatened by changes to patterns of habitat disturbance with lack of requisite open areas and by competition with invasive species notably crownvetch 4 References edit NatureServe 1 September 2023 Lespedeza virginica NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer Arlington Virginia NatureServe Retrieved 19 September 2023 Lespedeza virginica L Britton Plants of the World Online Retrieved 4 September 2023 a b Lespedeza virginica Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center N p n d Web 16 Dec 2014 http www wildflower org plants result php id plant LEVI7 a b c d COSEWIC 2013 COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report on the Slender Bush clover Lespedeza virginica in Canada PDF Report Ottawa Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada Retrieved 19 September 2023 Plants Profile for Lespedeza virginica slender lespedeza 16 Dec 2014 http plants usda gov core profile symbol levi7 a b c Slender Bush Clover Lespedeza virginica 16 Dec 2014 http www illinoiswildflowers info savanna plants sl bushclover htm a b Schutzenhofer Michele R The Effect of Herbivory on the Mating System of Congeneric Native and ExoticSpecies International Journal of Plant Sciences 168 7 2007 1021 026 Web Clewell Andre F 1966 Natural history cytology and isolating mechanisms of the native American Lespedezas Bulletin of Tall Timbers Research Station Tallahassee Florida Tall Timbers Research Station LCCN 68000241 No 6 Slender Bush Clover Lespedeza virginica Wisconsin DNR dnr wi gov Rare Plant List Reports NH Division of Forests and Lands www nh gov Appendix P Endangered threatened and vulnerable species in Ontario www ontario ca Slender Bush clover Lespedeza virginica Species at risk public registry Government of Canada 13 June 2023 Retrieved 19 September 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lespedeza virginica amp oldid 1214920620, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
