Lespedeza juncea (L.F.) Pers.

Subshrubs or perennial herbs, small, to 1 m tall, adpressed hairy throughout. Leaves 3-foliolate; petiole 0.5-1 cm; leaflets oblanceolate, linear-oblong, or narrowly oblong, terminal one 1.5-3.5 × 0.2-0.7 cm, base attenuate, margin slightly involute, apex acute or obtuse-rounded, mucronate. Racemes axillary, slightly overtopping leaves, 3-7-flowered. Calyx narrowly cam­panulate, 5-parted; lobes lanceolate, distinctly 3-veined after fruiting. Corolla white or yellowish; standard with purple spots at base, not or rarely reflexed at fruiting; keel mixed with purple at apex; standard and wings subequal to keel, sometimes stan­dard short. Cleistogamous flowers clustered in leaf axils, sub­sessile. Legume broadly ovoid, slightly overtopping persistent calyx, both surfaces adpressed white hairy. Fl. Jul-Sep, fr. Sep-Oct. 2n = 20.

It suits subtropical and temperate regions. It grows on a range of soils but usually ones which are occasionally flooded. It will grow in sunny or lightly shaded sites. It is damaged by heavy frosts. In China it grows on mountain slopes below 1500 m altitude.

The leaves and shoots are eaten.

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.