Common lespedeza
Kummerowia striata

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A herb which lays along the ground. It grows each year from seed. It is 5-30 cm high. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaflets vary in size and shape. They are narrowly oval and 5-15 mm long by 3-7 mm wide. The flowers are small and white. The fruit are small round pods. There is one seed.

The whole plant is used for medicine, green manure and forage. Chemical composition: ash = 4.3%. Rich in lime. There are about 100 Lespedeza species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate climate plant. In China it grows on sandy soils below 500 m altitude. It is a widespread weed in lawns. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Asia, Australia, Caucasus, China, Hawaii, India, Japan, Korea, Manchuria, Mongolia, Nauru, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Russia, SE Asia, Taiwan, USA, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The whole young plant is eaten. The seeds are made into flour and used for porridge.

It is sold in local markets in China.

Edible parts

Seeds, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Cum soc, Ji yan cao, Japanese Lespedeza, Japanese clover, Ren zi cao

Synonyms

Desmodium striatum (Thunb.) DC.; Hedysarum striatum Thunberg; Hedysarum striatum Murray; Lespedeza striata (Thunb.) Hooker & Arnott; Microlespedeza makinoi Tanaka; Microlespedeza striata (Thunberg) Makino.;