CHAPTER XXIII 

 OTHER HOT-SEASON ANNUAL LEGUMES 



THERE are numerous tropical and subtropical legumes 

 well adapted to culture in the Southern States. None of 

 these are of equal importance to the cowpea and the soy- 

 bean, but several of them have high value for particular 

 conditions. Among these are Japan clover, velvet-bean 

 and beggar-weed. Others such as bonavist, guar, mung 

 and related beans can hardly compete with the cowpea, 

 although there is need of much further experimentation 

 with these crops before their value can be clearly 

 determined. 



LESPEDEZA OR JAPAN CLOVER (Lespedezci striato) 



655. Description. Lespedeza or Japan clover is a 

 native of eastern Asia, occurring in Japan, Korea, Man- 

 churia, Mongolia and China. It is a summer annual with 

 reddish, usually much-branched, wiry stems and numerous 

 small, sessile, trifoliolate leaves. Over most of the area in 

 which it occurs the plants are only 4 to 6 inches high, and 

 isolated plants often make masses 6 to 12 inches across. 

 Under very favorable conditions of soil and climate, the 

 plants commonly grow 12 inches high, frequently reach- 

 ing 18 inches and exceptionally 24 to 30 inches. In thin 

 stands the plants are spreading, or even prostrate, but 

 where dense are quite erect and not much branched. 



The plants begin to appear rather late in spring, bloom 



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