Lespedeza violacea (L.) Pers.

Locations ofLespedeza violacea (L.) Pers. in Virginia

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Detail

Family
Fabaceae
Botanical Name
Lespedeza violacea (L.) Pers.
Common Name
Wand Lespedeza, Wand Bush-clover
Synonym(s)
Lespedeza intermedia (S. Wats.) Britt.
Flora of Virginia Name/Status
Lespedeza violacea (L.) Pers.
Comments
Due to a problem with the type specimen, the name Lespedeza violacea now applies to this species, which has long been known as L. intermedia, and the name L. frutescens now applies to the species long known as L. violacea. This is very unfortunate as it will cause endless confusion unless the name L. violacea is conserved. Clewell gives a good discussion of this in Rhodora 68:392-393 and concluded it best for nomenclatural stability not to change existing concepts until he personally had a chance to examine the type specimen. It appears he never did so, and the change is now widely implemented.
Habitat
Dry-mesic to dry forests and woodlands; most abundant on moderately to strongly base-rich soils. Frequent to common in the mountains and Piedmont; infrequent in the Coastal Plain.
Native Status
Native

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