Lespedeza Fun and Frustration

 
Remember this picture? I called it Wand-like Bush Clover.



Well, I now have the picture that shows what the habitat looks like while growing.



And one with those distinctive seed pods.



The problem is that it doesn't really match any of the Lespedeza exactly. The Michigan Flora book says that hybrids of intermedia with violacea produce the flowers with those long wings. And intermedia had been renamed frutescens. The on-line Michigan Flora guide doesn't even include the species in Michigan.

But, here's this plant. Clearly a Bush Clover. Sigh... I can't really go any farther without one of my real botanist friends, who mostly don't like fielding questions from amateur me.

Time to move on.

How about one I clearly identified? This is Hairy Bush Clover, Lespedeza hirta. It has little tiny hairs- lots of them



It grows straight up and then sends up stalks for the flowers.



One of them was opening yesterday.



I've seen a third species in the area, but don't have pictures of it.

It's back to work tomorrow. I don't really feel ready for that.

	See Martin Johnson and a Little Walk
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