Wildlife Values of the Lespedezas

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The genus Lespedeza., including some 150 species of leguminous shrubs and herbs, native to eastern N. America and Asia, is di-vided into 3 principal groups[long dash]annuals, perennial herbaceous spp., and true shrub types. At least 17 spp. of N. American mammals and birds have been known to eat the seeds, leaves, stems, or barks of certain spp. of lespedeza. Spp. of primary use to land managers who wish to improve conditions for wildlife include the 2 annual lespedezas, L. striata and L. stipulacea, sericea lespedeza, L. cuneata, and Lespedeza bicolor, L. bicolor has been developed for agric. usage only recently by the Soil Conservation Service in the s.-e. states. Other shrub lespedezas are being tested and a few have been found promising, but L. bicolor has been used most extensively and found to be a preferred food of bobwhite quail and is used considerably by cottontail rabbits. Shrub lespedezas are particularly promising because they can be established by direct seeding; are perennial ; withstand burning, disking, cutting, or use by rabbits in winter; and are attractive in appearance. L. bicolor is useful for shrub borders around woodlands, for food patches, and for hedgelike strips through open woodland where quail management is desired. The supply of seed has risen from a few pounds in 1934 to >20,000 lb. in 1943. Its use is being furthered by several state game depts., the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the soil conservation districts. Improved strains of L. bicolor have been selected and are being developed. Sericea lespedeza is recognized now more for its cover than for food values. The native lespedezas have little value for land or wildlife management.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: