Lespedeza
Encyclopedia
Lespedeza is a genus
of some 40 species
(including nothospecies) of flowering plant
s in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers. The genus is native to warm temperate
to subtropical regions of eastern North America
, eastern and southern Asia
and Australasia
.
These shrubby plants or trailing vine
s belong to the "typical" legumes (Faboideae
) like peas and beans, though within these they are part of another tribe
, the Desmodieae
. Therein, they are treated as type genus
of the smaller subtribe Lespedezinae, which unites the present genus and its presumed closest relatives, Campylotropis
and Kummerowia
are grown as garden
or ornamental plant
s, and/or are used as a forage
crops, notably in the southern United States
, and as a means of soil
enrichment and for prevention of erosion
. Some are invasive species
in some areas. Lespedeza are collectively classified as legumes, meaning that their roots harbor bacteria capable of nitrogen fixation
from the air into a soil-bound form that can be taken up by other plants (thereby reducing fertilizer input costs).
L. bicolor
leaves and roots contain l-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (lespedamin), as well as related Nω,Nω-DMTs
and their oxides, as well as some bufotenin
.
and nothospecies recognized in Lespedeza are:
The identity and/or specific validity of L. schindleri is unclear.
In addition, there are some species formerly in this genus but nowadays placed elsewhere (typically Lespedezinae, e.g. Campylotropis
), such as:
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of some 40 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
(including nothospecies) of flowering plant
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
s in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly known as bush clovers or (particularly East Asian species) Japanese clovers. The genus is native to warm temperate
Temperate
In geography, temperate or tepid latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. The changes in these regions between summer and winter are generally relatively moderate, rather than extreme hot or cold...
to subtropical regions of eastern North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, eastern and southern Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
.
Vine
A vine in the narrowest sense is the grapevine , but more generally it can refer to any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent, that is to say climbing, stems or runners...
s belong to the "typical" legumes (Faboideae
Faboideae
Faboideae is a subfamily of the flowering plant family Fabaceae or Leguminosae. One acceptable alternative name for the subfamily is Papilionoideae....
) like peas and beans, though within these they are part of another tribe
Tribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
, the Desmodieae
Desmodieae
The tribe Desmodieae is one of the subdivisions of the plant family Fabaceae. It is composed of two subtribes, Desmodiinae and Lespedezinae. Recent phylogenetics has this tribe nested within tribe Phaseoleae.The following genera are recognized by the USDA:...
. Therein, they are treated as type genus
Type genus
In biological classification, a type genus is a representative genus, as with regard to a biological family. The term and concept is used much more often and much more formally in zoology than it is in botany, and the definition is dependent on the nomenclatural Code that applies:* In zoological...
of the smaller subtribe Lespedezinae, which unites the present genus and its presumed closest relatives, Campylotropis
Campylotropis
Campylotropis is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. It belongs to the sub family Faboideae....
and Kummerowia
Kummerowia
Kummerowia is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. It belongs to the sub family Faboideae....
Cultivation and uses
Some speciesSpecies
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
are grown as garden
Garden
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. The most common form today is known as a residential garden, but the term garden has...
or ornamental plant
Ornamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
s, and/or are used as a forage
Fodder
Fodder or animal feed is any agricultural foodstuff used specifically to feed domesticated livestock such as cattle, goats, sheep, horses, chickens and pigs. Most animal feed is from plants but some is of animal origin...
crops, notably in the southern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and as a means of soil
Soil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...
enrichment and for prevention of erosion
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
. Some are invasive species
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
in some areas. Lespedeza are collectively classified as legumes, meaning that their roots harbor bacteria capable of nitrogen fixation
Nitrogen fixation
Nitrogen fixation is the natural process, either biological or abiotic, by which nitrogen in the atmosphere is converted into ammonia . This process is essential for life because fixed nitrogen is required to biosynthesize the basic building blocks of life, e.g., nucleotides for DNA and RNA and...
from the air into a soil-bound form that can be taken up by other plants (thereby reducing fertilizer input costs).
L. bicolor
Lespedeza bicolor
Lespedeza bicolor is a species of flowering plant in the legume family known by the common names shrubby bushclover, shrub lespedeza, and bicolor lespedeza. It is native to Asia and it is widely grown as an ornamental plant...
leaves and roots contain l-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (lespedamin), as well as related Nω,Nω-DMTs
Dimethyltryptamine
N,N-Dimethyltryptamine is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound of the tryptamine family. DMT is found in several plants, and also in trace amounts in humans and other mammals, where it is originally derived from the essential amino acid tryptophan, and ultimately produced by the enzyme INMT...
and their oxides, as well as some bufotenin
Bufotenin
Bufotenin , or 5-hydroxy-dimethyltryptamine , is a tryptamine related to the neurotransmitter serotonin...
.
Species
The speciesSpecies
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
and nothospecies recognized in Lespedeza are:
The identity and/or specific validity of L. schindleri is unclear.
In addition, there are some species formerly in this genus but nowadays placed elsewhere (typically Lespedezinae, e.g. Campylotropis
Campylotropis
Campylotropis is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. It belongs to the sub family Faboideae....
), such as:
- Lespedeza speciosa Schindl. = Campylotropis speciosa (Schindl.) Schindl.
- Lespedeza tomentosa Maxim. = Campylotropis pinetorum (Kurz) Schindl.
External links
- Sericea in conservation farming (Lespedeza Cuneata) hosted by the UNT Government Documents Department
- USDA Natural Conservation Service: Lespedeza bicolor Turcz. (shrub lespedeza)