Fauna
Plant · GBIF taxon 8114276

Chinese Bushclover

Lespedeza cuneata

Also known as Sericea Lespedeza, Sericea, Silky Bushclover

Chinese bushclover is a hardy, deep-rooted perennial legume that forms dense, upright stands in grasslands, open woodlands, and disturbed roadsides. Originally planted for erosion control, wildlife cover, and livestock forage, its high concentrations of condensed tannins make mature foliage unpalatable to most cattle and wildlife. Its extensive taproots and allelopathic chemicals allow it to outcompete native grasses and forbs, significantly altering prairie ecosystems across its introduced range.

InvasiveFloweringNitrogen-Fixing
Chinese Bushclover reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Licheng Shih, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Licheng Shih · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Autotrophic (photosynthetic)
Predators
  • Domestic Goat
  • Bobwhite Quail
  • Caterpillars of Gray Hairstreak
ThreatsHerbicides, targeted grazing by goats, and controlled burns timed to deplete root reserves
HabitatsPrairies, open woodlands, old fields, roadsides, pastures, and disturbed ground
Life spanPerennial (individual plants live up to 10–20 years)
Classification
  1. OrderFabales
  2. FamilyFabaceae
  3. GenusLespedeza
  4. SpeciesLespedeza cuneata
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
  • Identification: Look for erect, wand-like stems clothed densely in three-parted leaflets with flattened wedge-shaped tips.
  • Seed Dispersal: Check boots, vehicle tires, and pet coats after walking through stands to prevent spreading seeds.
  • Flowering Season: Observe the tiny, creamy-white flowers with purple throat markings from midsummer to early autumn.
Related species
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