sericea lespedeza

Lespedeza cuneata (Dum.-Cours.) G. Don

Description from Invasive.org

Appearance
Lespedeza cuneata is an upright semi-woody forb reaching 3-6 ft. (0.9-1.8 m) in height with one to many slender stems. Stems are often gray green with lines of hairs along the stem.
Foliage
Leaves are thin, alternate, abundant and three-parted. Leaflets have wedge-shaped bases and are 0.5-1 in. (1.3-2.5 cm) long and hairy.
Flowers
Flowering occurs from July to September, when small, creamy-white flowers with purple throats develop in clusters of two to four.
Fruit
Fruit is a flat ovate to round single-seeded pod 0.12-0.15 in. (3-4 mm) wide. Pods are clustered in terminal axils, scattered along the stem, and clasped by persistent sepals.
Ecological Threat
Lespedeza cuneata is an extremely aggressive invader of open areas and out competes native vegetation. Once established, Lespedeza cuneata is very difficult to remove due to the seed bank which may remain viable for decades. Native to Asia and introduced into the United States in the late 1800s, it has been widely planted for erosion control, mine reclamation and wildlife habitat.

Resources


Selected Images from Invasive.org

View All Images at Invasive.org


Plant(s) dormant plant in February
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Feature(s) Leaf backs (left) and leaf fronts (right) in July
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
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Flower(s) in July. Photo from Forest Plants of the Southeast and Their Wildlife Uses by J.H. Miller and K.V. Miller, published by The University of Georgia Press in cooperation with the Southern Weed Science Society.
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
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Flower(s)
Dan Tenaglia, Missouriplants.com, Bugwood.org
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Foliage
Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
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Infestation
Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
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Infestation
Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
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Seedling(s)
Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
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Infestation In a woodland setting
Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
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Infestation
Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
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Feature(s) February
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
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Flower(s)
Dan Tenaglia, Missouriplants.com, Bugwood.org
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Infestation
Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
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Seed(s)
Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org
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Twig(s)/Shoot(s) Shoot and leaves
John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Bugwood.org
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Seed(s) in February
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
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Distribution