BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Lespedeza striata | Common Lespedeza 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Common lespedeza is an exotic, annual legume with a bushy, erect growth
form.  When grown in shade, it may have a prostrate form [10].  It grows
up to 15.7 inches (40 cm) in height, but is usually less than 12 inches
(30.5 cm) in height.  It has a well-developed taproot [9,10,25].  The
inflorescence is a raceme [10].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Therophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
NO-ENTRY


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Common lespedeza is naturalized in old fields, roadsides, dry open
woods, rocky open areas, gravelly stream banks, and waste places [10,30].
It tolerates acids soils, with a lower pH limit of 4.5 [27].  Common
lespedeza grows in clay or sand, and is best adapted to well-drained,
fertile soils [9,20,25].  It occurs at elevations below 2,000 feet (610
m) at the northern limits of its range [27].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Obligate Initial Community Species

Common lespedeza is a pioneer on disturbed sites [3,9].  Once
established, it reseeds well, but is usually overgrown by other pioneers
in 2 or 3 years [9,18].  In Alabama, common lespedeza density was
greatest in 3- to 5-year-old fields, and decreased with advancing
succession [22].


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Germination of common lespedeza occurs in late February to March.
Growth is slow in the early spring; development is more rapid in the
summer months [9,24].  It flowers from July to October [10], and seeds
mature in late autumn [9].

Related categories for Species: Lespedeza striata | Common Lespedeza