[les-pi-dee-zuh] 
| any shrub or herb belonging to the genus Lespedeza, of the legume family, having trifoliolate leaves and lavender flowers, grown for forage, soil improvement, etc. |
| bush clover n. Any of various plants of the genus Lespedeza in the pea family, having compound leaves with three leaflets and various colored flowers and often grown for forage, soil improvement, erosion control, or ornament. Also called lespedeza. |
| les·pe·de·za (lěs'pĭ-dē'zə) n. See bush clover. [New Latin Lespedeza, genus name, after V.M. de Céspedez (misread as Léspedez; fl. 1785), Spanish governor of Florida.] |
lespedeza
any member of a genus (Lespedeza) of herbaceous plants in the pea family (Fabaceae), some of which are useful as forage and green manure crops. The approximately 40 species in the genus are native to North America, tropical and East Asia, and Australia. The lespedezas may be roughly grouped as herbaceous perennials, small shrubs, and annuals. Lespedezas are either erect or trailing in habit, and some perennial species can reach heights of up to 3 m (10 feet). The best-known species have alternate, toothless leaves that are made up of three leaflets. All lespedezas are adapted to warm, humid climates.
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