Stems 10–50 cm, hairs antrorse. Leaves: stipules 3–5 mm, acute to acuminate; leaflets dimorphic, proximal blades obovate, dis­tals narrowly obovate, abaxial surface sparsely pubescent on midrib and margins, hairs appressed or ascending, white, apex retuse or emarginate; terminal leaflet blade 6–13 × 3–9 mm. Peduncles to 0.5 mm in cleistogamous flowers, 1–1.5 mm in chasmogamous; glabrous or sparsely puberulent. Inflorescences: chasmogamous flower 1, cleistogamous flower 0 or 1; prophylls 1 or 2, blades ovate, proximal one 0.5 mm, second proximal one 1 mm. Bracts: prox­imal bracts minute, subulate; second proximal blade elliptic, 0.8 mm, apex acute; distal blades broadly ovate, 1.6–1.8 mm, 3-veined. Chasmogamous flowers 5–6 mm; calyx 1.5–2 mm, glabrous. Cleistogamous flowers often absent, 0.5 mm. Legumes elliptic, 2.5–3.5 × 1.5–2.5 mm, sparsely appressed-puberulent, less than 1/2 covered by persistent calyx; apex rounded. Seeds 1.5–1.8 × 1.2 mm. 2n = 20, 22.

Phenology: Flowering Jul–Sep.
Habitat: Pastures, open woodlands and borders, old fields, roadsides, urban waste areas, lawns.
Elevation: 30–500 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Introduced; Ala., Ark., Del., D.C., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Md., Mich., Miss., Mo., Nebr., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., W.Va., Asia, introduced also in Australia.

Discussion

Kummerowia stipulacea was introduced into the flora area in 1919 (D. Isely 1948) as a forage plant; some improved strains are sold. It has a slightly more northerly distribution than K. striata.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.