Fauna
Plant

Japanese Clover

Kummerowia striata

Also known as Common Lespedeza, Striate Lespedeza, Annual Lespedeza

Japanese clover is a sprawling, low-growing annual legume that forms dense green carpets across disturbed soils, pastures, and roadsides. Its trifoliate leaves feature prominent, straight veins that lend the foliage a finely striped appearance, accompanied by tiny pinkish-purple flowers tucked into leaf axils late in the summer. Through symbiotic root-nodule bacteria, it fixes atmospheric nitrogen, enabling rapid colonization of nutrient-poor and compacted ground.

GroundcoverNitrogen-FixingIntroduced
Japanese Clover reference1 / 7
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (photosynthetic)
Predators
  • White-Tailed Deer
  • Northern Bobwhite
  • Grasshoppers
ThreatsHerbicide applications, mowing regimens, and severe soil compaction
HabitatsDisturbed areas, roadsides, pastures, fields, and open woods
Life span1 year (annual)
Classification
  1. OrderFabales
  2. FamilyFabaceae
  3. GenusKummerowia
  4. SpeciesKummerowia striata
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Leaf examination: Bend a leaflet gently to see its distinctive parallel, unbranched lateral veins.
  • Seasonal timing: Look for subtle pink and purple flowers nestled in leaf axils from July through October.
  • Habitat scanning: Search along compacted footpaths, road shoulders, and grazed pastures where low mats thrive.
Related species
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