Lespedeza thunbergii | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Fabales |
Family: | Fabaceae |
Subfamily: | Faboideae |
Genus: | Lespedeza |
Species: | L. thunbergii
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Binomial name | |
Lespedeza thunbergii (DC.) Nakai (1927)
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Subspecies[1] | |
5; see text | |
Synonyms[1] | |
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Lespedeza thunbergii is a species of flowering plant in the legume family known by the common names Thunberg's bushclover, Thunberg's lespedeza, and shrub lespedeza. It is native to the eastern Himalayas, China, Korea, and Japan.[2]
This species produces annual stems up to 2 m (7 ft) tall and 0.5 in (1.3 cm) in diameter. They die back completely at the end of the season. The abundant pink to purplish flowers bloom in late summer. The fruit is a legume pod containing black seeds.[3]
Five subspecies are accepted:[1]
The specific epithet thunbergii refers to the 18th-century Swedish botanist Carl Peter Thunberg.[4]
In cultivation this plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[5][6] Cultivars include 'VA-70', 'Amquail',[3] 'White Fountain', and 'Gibraltar'.[7] This species has the capacity to become invasive.[3]