Herbs, mat-forming. Stems pro­cumbent or trailing, ini­tially ascending, becoming decum­bent with continued growth, clustered, slender, to 100 cm, branched much of length, seri­ceous or glabrescent. Leaves: stipules subulate, 2–3(–4) mm; petiole 7–10(–15) mm, equaling or longer than rachis; leaflet blades usually narrowly elliptic to elliptic, rarely obovate, apex obtuse, scarcely or minutely apiculate, surfaces sericeous abaxially, sparsely sericeous or glabrescent adaxially; laterals similar to terminal; terminal blade petiolulate or sessile, 10–20(–25) × 5–10 mm, length 1.5–2.5(–3) times width. Peduncles longer than subtending leaves, filiform, usually sericeous, sometimes glabrescent. Racemes 2–6(–10)-flowered, erect, flowers not clustered at apex, flowers chasmogamous and cleistogamous. Pedicels 0.5–4 mm, appressed-puberulent; bracteoles shorter than calyx tube. Flowers: chasmogamous 6–8 mm; calyx 3–4 mm, appressed-puberulent, tube 1 mm; lobes 4, lateral narrowly deltate, 2–2.5 mm, adaxial connate proximally; corolla usually pink-lavender to violet, rarely whitish; wings 7–7.5 mm; keel 6.8–7.3 mm. Loments: chasmogamous exserted from calyx, calyx 1/2 loment length, rounded to elliptic, 4–7 × 3–4 mm, cleistogamous rare, exserted from calyx, calyx 1/4–1/3 loment length; stipe 1.5 mm. 2n = 20.

Phenology: Flowering spring–fall.
Habitat: Upland open woodlands, borders, openings, thickets, barren or eroded areas, roadsides.
Elevation: 0–1000 m.

Distribution

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Ala., Ark., Conn., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Md., Miss., Mo., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., W.Va., Wis.

Discussion

Lespedeza repens forms natural hybrids with L. angustifolia, L. frutescens, and L. stuevei.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.