Lespedeza cyrtobotrya Miq.

Modern name

A small deciduous shrub, which in this country sends up from the base every summer a number of erect, woody stems 2 to 3 ft high, that do not survive the winter, but die back to ground-level; bark downy. Leaves trifoliolate, 3 to 5 in. long; leaflets 1 to 13⁄4 in. long, 1⁄2 to 3⁄4 in. wide, oval or obovate, covered beneath with a fine down especially early in the season, apex rounded or slightly notched, the midrib ending in a short bristle; base tapered. Flowers crowded in umbellike racemes 11⁄2 in. long, which spring from the axils of the upper leaves of the shoot, rosy-purple, 1⁄2 to 5⁄8 in. long. Calyx-teeth spine-tipped. Pods ovate, 1⁄4 in. long, one-seeded.

Native of Japan and Korea; introduced to Kew in 1899. It is a pretty plant scarcely known in cultivation, and blossoms in August.

From the Supplement (Vol. V)

This species, which is rare in cultivation, was reintroduced to Kew from South Korea in 1982 (B.E. & C. 178). The seed was gathered from plants about 5 ft high, growing in full sun in acid sand or gravel.

Genus

Lespedeza

Other species in the genus

Modern name

Some names used by Bean have now been superseded and are no longer familiar. To ensure that all plants can be easily found, under any name, we have cross-referenced to The Plant List, a collaboration between RBG Kew, Missouri Botanical Gardens and other organisations, which aims to provide a currently accepted name for any plant. Not all taxonomists will agree with all Plant List nomenclature, but it provides a baseline to compare names. For each species above, clicking on the Modern Name will link to the entry for that name on The Plant List website.