Perennial Lespedeza
Lespedeza juncea

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 1.5 m tall and spreads 0.3-1 m wide. It has a thick woody rootstock. The branches are erect. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaflets are softly hairy underneath. They are 0.7-2.5 cm long by 0.2-0.4 cm wide. They are oval or wedge shaped. The flowers are pea shaped and 0.7 cm long. The flowers are pink. The fruit are pods 3 mm long by 2 mm wide.

There are about 100 Lespedeza species.

Where it is found

It suits subtropical and temperate regions. It grows on a range of soils but usually ones which are occasionally flooded. It will grow in sunny or lightly shaded sites. It is damaged by heavy frosts. In China it grows on mountain slopes below 1500 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, China, Himalayas, Indochina, Japan, Korea, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, SE Asia, Siberia, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The leaves and shoots are eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Jian ye tie sao zhou, Sagaing

Synonyms

Hedysarum junceum Linnaeus f.; Lespedeza cystioides Nakai; Lespedeza hedysaroides (Pallas) Kitagawa; Lespedeza hedysaroides (Pallas) Kitagawa var. subsericea (Komarov) Kitagawa; Lespedeza juncea f. umbrosa Komarov; Lespedeza juncea var. subsericea Komarov; Trifolium cytisoides Pallas; Trifolium hedysaroides Pallas;