This is an archived copy of this article, recovered after a server failure in January 2022.

Some links may be broken, and editing is disabled. We are working to bring back full functionality.

Kummerowia striata
  • Common Lespedeza

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

Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • Soil builder
    Soil builder
    There are no details available for this function.
  • Nitrogen fixer
    Nitrogen fixer
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • ?
    Unknown
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Kummerowia striata has 0 edible uses listed
Kummerowia striata has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Seed - cooked. The seed can be ground into a meal and used with cereal flours in making bread etc[1][2]. The seed contains 26.4 - 51.9% protein and 4.3 - 7.3% fat[3]. Young plant - cooked[1][2]. A nutritional analysis is available[3].

Leaves

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

The plant is fast growing and has an extensive root system. It has been widely used, especially in N. America, for restoring fertility to worn-out soils[4].
There are no material uses listed for Kummerowia striata.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The whole plant is used medicinally as a diuretic, for reducing fever, and treating diarrhea[5]. A decoction of the plant is used in the treatment of extreme physical debility and swellings[3]. It is boiled with Centella asiatica and Prunella vulgaris for the treatment of dysentery, headache and vertigo[3]. A broth is used to improve the appetite[3].

Unknown part

Miscellany
Diuretic
Febrifuge
Astringent

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Soil builder


Nitrogen fixer

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for 12 hours in warm water and sow in situ in mid spring.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Kummerowia striata. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

We have very little information on this species but it should succeed as a spring-sown annual in Britain. See the plants native habitat for ideas on its cultivation needs.

Plants sometimes produce cleistogamous flowers.

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[6]. 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.

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Kummerowia striata. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Kummerowia striata.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Kummerowia striata
Genus
Kummerowia
Family
Leguminosae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3]
Medicinal uses
[5][3]
Material uses & Functions
[4]
Botanic
[7][8][5]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Soil builder, Nitrogen fixer
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
?
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    annual
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.2 x meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Insects, Cleistogomy
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite











    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.2 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.2 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.33.43.53.6 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (1985-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.1 Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press (1952-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.2 [Flora of China] (1994-00-00)
    6. ? Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    7. ? Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution (1965-00-00)
    8. ? Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation (1968-00-00)


    Retrieved from "http://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Kummerowia_striata&oldid=78053"
    Facts about "Kummerowia striata"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyLeguminosae +
    Belongs to genusKummerowia +
    Functions asSoil builder + and Nitrogen fixer +
    Has binomial nameKummerowia striata +
    Has common nameCommon Lespedeza +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partLeaves + and Seed +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has fertility typeInsects + and Cleistogomy +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has lifecycle typeAnnual +
    Has mature height0.2 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useMiscellany +, Diuretic +, Febrifuge + and Astringent +
    Has search namekummerowia striata + and common lespedeza +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameKummerowia striata +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Kummerowia striata +, Kummerowia striata +, Kummerowia striata +, Kummerowia striata +, Kummerowia striata + and Kummerowia striata +