Kummerowia striata

Kummerowia striata is a species of flowering plant in the legume family known by the common names Japanese clover and common lespedeza. It is native to much of Asia and it is present in the eastern United States as an introduced species. This annual herb grows prostrate, spreading, or erect stems. It grows up to 40 centimeters tall. The leaves are made up of three oval leaflets. Flowers occur in the leaf axils. There are cleistogamous flowers, which self-fertilize and never open, and chasmogamous flowers, which open and receive pollen from other plants. The fruit is a small legume pod containing one seed. At the close of the American Civil War, this plant appeared all over the southern United States. It was likely introduced to North America accidentally, possibly as a seed contaminant, but it was later imported and planted intentionally. It was used to vegetate pastures and provide forage for livestock. Along with Korean clover it was used to revegetate abandoned coal mine sites. It was also used to prevent erosion. It is still used today. Cultivars are available, including "Kobe". This plant grows in the wild and is sometimes invasive. Kummerowia striata is a plant native to East Asia and an invasive plant in the United States in the family Fabaceae. The plant was introduced in the 1800s and is now found in a majority of the United States, and is especially prevalent in the eastern part of the country. Its spread boomed after the American Civil War and has continued to spread, thriving in sandy soils that have been disturbed by human activities. It has benefits to human health and agriculture, as well as providing a food source to numerous species across the food web.

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