Flower ID: IMG_3244.JPG-09-08-2019 Flower name (scientific): Lespedeza capitata André Michaux PY: 1803. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) less-pe-DEEZ-a kap-ih-TAY-tuh Flower name (common): Round-headed Bush Clover Family name (common): Pea Family name (scientific): Fabaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: Named in honor of Vicente Manuel de Céspedes, governor of the Spanish province of East Florida. Apparently when the plant was first named in print, de Céspedes was misspelled as de Lespedez. Specific epithet: Latin for growing in a head, referring to the head-like flower clusters and/or the seed heads. Common name origin: From the appearance of the inflorescence as a rounded, dense cluster (head) of flowers. The term clover has a complex etymology, with many spelling variations. Flower description: Size: 0.2 to 0.3 inches (5 to 8 mm) Petal count: 5 Color: white with a partly red-colored throat. Other: flower arrangement, None Plant description: Size: 24 to 48 inches (61 to 122 cm) Stem hairy: Upper stem densely pubescent, lower stem sparsely pubescent to glabrous. Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is compound. The leaves have a petiole up to about 6 mm in length, the two lateral leaflets have shorter petioles compared with the central leaflet. Leaflet margins are entire. Size: Leaflets up to 7.5 cm long and 2.5 cm wide. Color: may have a gray to blue-green appearance depending on the extend of pubescence. Hairy: upper surface hairy to glabrous, the lower surface moderate to densely hairy. Other: Shape: leaf, trifoliate, leaflet, ovate (IL), oval (FWI) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): July to September Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Prairies, fields, forest openings, disturbed areas, roadsides, sun or partial sun, dry to moist. Fruit: legumes are about 4 to 5 mm in length and flattened. Seed: yellowish-brown to brown, about 2 to 3 mm in length. Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Lespedeza leptostachya (Prairie Bush Clover) has some resemblance, but this species has not been reported in Wisconsin, though the USDA database lists it as present in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa. This species is listed as threatened in Minnesota. Lespedeza hirta (Hairy Bush Clover) also has some resemblance, but this species is not reported from Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa, but has a more southern and eastern distribution in the US. Ethnobotany: The Meskwaki used this plant as a poison antidote (Smith, p. 229, 1928). The Omaha and the Ponca both used the plant to treat rheumatism. The Comanche utilized the leaves to prepare a berverage tea (Moerman, p. 302, 1998). Latitude: 44.795487 Longitude: -91.513448 Altitude: 275.90 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Lincoln, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Outagamie, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (NB, ON) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 2 homotypic synonyms for this species. Heterotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 14 heterotypic synonyms for this species. Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): FACU Wetland Status (MW): FACU