CHAPTER IX 



JAPAN CLOVER 



Japan Clover {Lespedeza striata) was introduced 

 from China or Japan, or from both countries, into 

 South Carolina in 1849, under the name Japan clo- 

 ver. It is thought the seed came in connection with 

 the tea trade with these countries. According to 

 Phares, the generic term Lespedeza, borne by the 

 one-seeded pods of the plants of this family, was 

 assigned to them in honor of Lespedez, a governor 

 of Florida under Spanish rule. It is sometimes 

 called Bush clover, from the bush-shaped habit of 

 growth in the plants when grown on good soils, but 

 is to be carefully distinguished from the Bush clo- 

 vers proper, which are of little value as food plants. 



Japan clover is an annual, but owing to its re- 

 markable power to retain its hold upon the soil, 

 through the shedding of the seed and the growing 

 of the same, it has equal ability with many peren- 

 nials to retain its hold upon the soil. It does not 

 start until late in the spring, nor can it endure much 

 frost; but its ability to grow in and retain its hold 

 upon poor soils is remarkable, while' its powers of 

 self-propagation in the South would seem to be 

 nearly equal to those of small white clover {Trifo- 

 him repens) in the North. It is, therefore, one of 

 the hardiest plants of the clover family. Where it 



