Ox bush-clover, Mongolia lespedeza tea
Lespedeza davurica

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A small shrub. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows 1 m high. The branches are hairy. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaflets are oval and 2-3 cm long by 7-10 mm wide. The flowers are greenish-yellow and a legume flower. The fruits are oval and 3 mm long. They have one seed. The seeds are black.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows on dry mountain slopes and sandy soils. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Indochina, Korea, Mongolia, Russia, SE Asia, Taiwan, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The flowers and leaves are dried and used for tea. The young leaves are also steamed with flour.

Edible parts

Leaves - tea, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Hurbegen chai, Hurbhei, Lietda trondai

Synonyms

Trifolium dahurica Laxm.;