CIRCULAR 348, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Food preferences of quail in the Southeast 
1. Bushclovers (Lespedeza). 24. Bristle grasses (Chaetochloa). 
2. Partridge-peas (Chamaecrista). 25. Sesban; danglepod (Sesban emerus). 
3. Pines (Pinus). 26. Sassafras (Sassafras sassafras). 
4, Common ragweed (Ambrosia ela- | 27. Witchgrasses (Panicum). 
tior). 28. Nut sedges (Scleria). ; 
5. Beggarweeds (Meibomia). 29. Huckleberries (Gaylussacia); blue- 
6. Oaks (Quercus). berries (Vaccinium); deerberries 
7. Milk peas (Galactia). (Polycodium). 
8. Corn (Zea mays). 30. Tupelos; black gums (Nyssa). 
9. Cowpeas (Vigna); soybeans (Soja). | 31. Crabgrasses (Syntherisma). 
10. Sumacs (Rhus). 32. Violets (Viola). 
11. Wheat (Triticum). 33. Hollies (Jlez). 
12. Hogpeanut (Falcata comosa). 34. Bluecurls(Trichostema dichotomum). 
13. Blacklocust (Robinia pseudoacacia). | 35. Buttonweed (Diodella teres). 
14. Snapweeds (Jmpatiens). 36. Poison-ivy (Toxicodendron). 
15. Paspalum grasses; sideseed grasses | 37. Peanut (Arachis hypogaea). 
(Paspalum). 38. Blueweed (Echium vulgare). 
16. Sweetgum (Liquidambar  styraci- | 39. Butterfly-pea (Bradburya virgini- 
flua). ana). 
17. Grapes (Vitis). 40. Sorghum (Holcus sorghum). 
18. Dewhberries; blackberries (Rubus). | 41. Beautyberry (Callicarpa ameri- 
19. Wild cherries (Padus). cana). 
20. Bayberries; waxmyrtles (Myrica). 42. Morning-glories (Ipomoea et al.). 
21. Flowering dogwood (Cynozxylon | 48. Stingnettle (Tragia). 
floridum). 44, Sheep sorrel; dock (Rumez). 
22. Wild beans (Strophostyles). 45. Mexican-clover (Richardia scabra). 
23. Smartweeds (Polygonum). 46. Vetches (V2cza). 
PLANT DESCRIPTIONS AND COMMENTS! 
1. BUSHCLOVERS; LESPEDEZA 
(Fig. 1, A and B) 
There are six or more kinds of bushclovers (lespedezas) native or 
naturalized in the Southeast. All species are eaten by quail, but the 
one generally termed lespedeza (Lespedeza striata) is outstanding in 
value and is commonly planted on quail preserves. Itis an introduced 
annual, usually a low, spreading plant, and in favorable situations 
reseeds itself readily. L.frutescens and L. violacea are important native 
forms and, like most of the other species, are erect perennials, usually 
1 to 3 feet high. Bushclovers are characterized by white, pink, or 
purplish flowers and are distinct from beggarweeds in having small, 
short pods, which are not several-jointed and do not cling readily to 
clothing. Some of the seeds tend to persist on the plants into th 
winter months. 
2. PARTRIDGE-PEAS 
(Fig. 1, Cand D) 
Fifteen species of the genus Chamaecrista occur in the Southeast, but 
only two, C. fasciculata and C. procumbens, are of known importance to 
quail. They are exceptionally popular sources of quail food. The 
plants have bright yellow flowers, stand about 2 feet high, and occur 
isolated or in extensive dense growths, and in such stands furnish 
excellent cover as well as much good food. C. fasciculata has larger 
flowers and much longer flower stems and pod stems than C. procumbens, 
3. PINES 
(Fig. 2, A) 
Pine mast is consumed by quail freely when available, but usually 
the trees seed heavily only at intervals of several years. Loblolly 
1 Numerous contributions and annotations by Herbert L. Stoddard, of Sherwood Plantation, Thomas- 
ville, Ga., by Wallace B. Grange, of Ephraim, Wis., and by F. V. Coville, of the Bureau of Plant Industry, 
are gratefully acknowledged. Small’s Manual of the Southeastern Flora, 1933, has been used as a standard 
of technical nomenclature, except in the genera Myrica, Rumez, Polygonum, Gaylussacia, and Vaccinium. 
