PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Violet Bush Clover (Lespedeza violacea)

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Photo by Scott Weber

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Violet Bush Clover (Lespedeza violacea), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in dry forests and woodlands, usually on sandstone bluffs. Blooming occurs late-June through late-July, fruiting late-July through late-September. The optimal identification period for this species is early-July through early-September.

Lespedeza frutescens

 
 
 

Violet bush clover is an erect forb with loose racemes with few flowers, pedicels that far exceed the subtending leaves, purple flowers 6-10 mm, wings shorter than the keel, calyx lobes are 1.5-3mm, the 2 uppermost are fused beyond the middle. Fruits are oval to elliptic and 1-seeded. Three elliptic leaflets, each 1-4cm and half as wide, hairy beneath and smooth or nearly so above, petioles are often nearly as long as the leaflets.

Blooming occurs late-June through late-July, fruiting late-July through late-September.

Perennial. The optimal identification period for this species is early-July through early-September.

Associated species include Quercus velutina, Q alba, Q borealis, Schizachyrium scoparium, Carex richardsonii, Rhus glabra, Juglans cinerea, and Carya ovata.

Violet bush clover is found in dry forests and woodlands, usually on sandstone bluffs.

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.

Avoid locating landings, staging areas, or access routes in open sandy areas dominated by native grasses.

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 partial canopy to encourage woodland species, avoid closed-canopy conditions.

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.