PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

 
 
   
 
Scientific Name Common Name Global Rank State Rank Federal Status WI Status

Prairie Bush Clover (Lespedeza leptostachya)

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Photo by Thomas Meyer

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Prairie Bush Clover (Lespedeza leptostachya), a Wisconsin Endangered and Federal Threatened plant, is found in gravelly or sandy hillside prairies. Blooming occurs late-July through late-August, fruiting early-August through early-September. The optimal identification period for this species is throughout August.

 
 
 

Prairie bush clover has spikes that are slender, loose and interrupted, 2-3cm long on peduncles 1-2cm long, ochre-colored flowers 4-6mm, and corollas about equal to the calyx. Its fruits are densely hairy and equal to the calyx. Leaflets are narrowly oblong, 2-4cm long by 3-7mm wide, obtuse and tipped with a short, sharp, abrupt point, sparsely hairy above, and silky beneath, petioles are 4-10 mmlong.

Blooming occurs late-July through late-August, fruiting early-August through early-September.

Perennial. The optimal identification period for this species is throughout August.

Associated species include Andropogon gerardii, Bouteloua curtipendula, Lespedeza capitata, Poa compressa, Bromus inermis, Prunus serotina, and Lonicera tatarica.

Prairie bush clover is found in gravelly or sandy hillside prairies.

Avoid known individual plant locations and conduct operations elsewhere when they are least likely to cause damage. Ideally, this would involve frozen, snow-covered ground. However, in areas of the state where frozen conditions are unreliable, very dry soils late in the growing season might be the best available alternative. Consult with a biologist, if needed.

Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides and use care with spot spraying.

Prescribed burns and/or brushing may be beneficial, dependent on local site conditions and burn frequency. Rotational burns with annual unburned refugia may be preferred.

Maintain and restore open habitat through selective clearing and brushing.

Survey for and control invasive plants prior to conducting timber operations, as these can be spread by vehicles and often respond vigorously to increased light. See forestry BMPs for invasive species.

Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are associated with habitats (or natural communities) and places on the landscape. Understanding relationships among SGCN, natural communities and ecological landscapes help us make decisions about issues affecting SGCN and their habitat and how to respond. Download the Wildlife Action Plan association score spreadsheet to explore rare species, natural communities and ecological landscape associations

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.