2 LEAFLET 2 40, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



SPECIES ADAPTATION 



Two species of annual lespedeza are recognized. One of these {Les- 

 pedeza stipulacea) is the form known as Korean lespedeza. The other 

 (L. striata) is made up of the unimproved form known as common les- 

 pedeza and its two improved varieties, Tennessee 76 and Kobe (fig. 2). 



Figure 2. — Specimen plants (left to right) of Kobe, Korean, and common 

 lespedeza, grown near Washington, D. C. 



The two species differ in adaptation to latitudes, the Korean succeed- 

 ing farther north and the common lespedeza and its improved varieties 

 being more at home in southern latitudes. In the region of North 

 Carolina and Tennessee both species are grown and do well. Natural 

 latitudinal adaptation and other characteristics make Kobe lespedeza 

 especially valuable to the South. 



SEED CHARACTERISTICS 



The seed of Kobe lespedeza is distinctly larger than that of either 

 Tennessee 76 or common lespedeza. It will average about half again 

 as large as in those varieties both in the pod and when hulled. Seeds 

 of all three can be easily distinguished from those of Korean lespedeza. 

 In that species the calyx covers less than half the seed pod, while in 

 the other three the seed pod is almost entirely enclosed. In these three 

 varieties very few of the calyxes are removed in threshing, while in 

 Korean about 75 percent are removed. The calyx of Kobe is grayish 

 green, while that of common and Tennessee 76 is generally reddish 

 brown (fig. 3). 



On account of the large calyx, seeds of Kobe, Tennessee 76, and com- 

 mon lespedeza weigh less than those of Korean and average about 25 

 pounds a bushel. In Kobe the number of seeds to the pound is about 

 200,000, while in Tennessee 76 and common it runs about 300,000 . 



SEEDING 



Kobe seed being larger, more seed by weight should be used than is 

 required for Tennessee 76 or common lespedeza. For average condi- 



