Lespedeza frutescens, “Violet bush clover”
Fabaceae
First saw this working at ONSR, then Daniel Boone showed it to me in Mount Airy Forest at the buffalo clover patch. Was doing very well there.
Stems usually much branched, often below middle, covered in appressed hairs. *Often grows in spreading clumps. Delicate overall appearance. Leaves 2-ranked on stem.
Leaflets glabrous above, rounded, often a light green color, with obvious darker green lateral venation.
Racemes loose, few-flowered, some flowers with petals on peduncles exceeding subtending leaves (plus flowers without petals on short stalks in leaf axils). Keels exceeding other petals.
Found growing in rocky open woods, thickets, rocky prairies.
Compare with L. violacea (narrower leaves, taller and more solitary habit).
Paradise Ecological Services 