Downy Trailing
Bush-clover
Lespedeza procumbens
from Neartica
Identification: A trailing plant that sends up erect or nearly erect flower branches. Flowers pea-like, with upper banner deeply tinged with lavender, other petals whiter, but also tinged with lavender or violet. Flowers in irregular racemes on an erect flowering branch. Stem hairy. Leaves with 3 leaflets, rounded to slightly elongate.
Distribution: Wisconsin in the west to Massachusetts in the east, southward to Florida and Texas.
Habitat: Trailing Bush Clover is a species of dry woods and forest clearings.
Flowering period: August to October.
Similar Species: Creeping Bush Clover is nearly identical to this species. However the plant is somewhat more slender and the stems are smooth, not hairy.