Practical
Plants

Kummerowia stipulacea

Korean Lespedeza

an annual member of the Kummerowia genus in the family Leguminosae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Growth rate
vigorous
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The whole plant is used medicinally as a diuretic, for reducing fever, and treating diarrhea[4].

Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Febrifuge

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

This species is much used in N. America for soil conservation and renewing worn-out soils[2]. It is a fast-growing annual, produces a good bulk and fixes a lot of atmospheric nitrogen.

Ecology and functions

Green manure

Soil conditioner

Soil builder

Earth stabiliser

Nitrogen fixer

Environment

Range
E. Asia - Japan, Korea.
Habitat
Waste ground and roadsides in C. and S. Japan[6]. Roadsides, grasslands, mountain slopes, stable or semi-stable sand dunes at elevations of 100--1200 metres in China[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - pre-soak for 24 hours in warm water and then sow late spring in situ.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

We have very little information on this species but it should succeed as a spring-sown annual in Britain. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Easily grown in a light loam in full sun[1]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[3]. When removing plant remains at the end of the growing season, it is best to only remove the aerial parts of the plant, leaving the roots in the ground to decay and release their nitrogen.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

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  3. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

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  4. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩1↩2

  5. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

  6. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

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