U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Threatened and Endangered Species Prairie Bush Clover ( leptostachya) The prairie bush clover is a threatened imported bush clovers are important species. Threatened species are animals fodder in the southern states. Prairie and that are likely to become bush clover and round headed bush endangered in the foreseeable future. clover provide the only potential native Endangered species are animals and genetic stock for breeding of cold plants that are in danger of becoming tolerant bush clovers suitable for the extinct. Identifying, protecting, and midwest. restoring endangered and threatened species is the primary objective of the Alkaloids from wild plants are used as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's the active agents in anesthetics, endangered species program. insecticides, anticancer drugs and muscle relaxants. Loss of prairie bush What is prairie bush clover and where clover would eliminate forever the does it occur? opportunity for future biological Prairie bush clover (Lespedeza research and the potential for such leptostachya) is a federally threatened medical and agricultural benefits. prairie legume found only in the region of four What does prairie bush clover look midwestern states. Prairie bush clover like? is found today at fewer than 40 sites in Prairie bush clover is a member of the 23 counties of , , pea family. Also known as slender- and . leaved bush clover, it has a clover-like leaf comprised of three leaflets about an Because it is known only from the inch long and a quarter inch wide. Photo by USFWS; Phil Delphey tallgrass prairie region of the upper Flowering plants are generally between Mississippi River Valley, the prairie nine and eighteen inches tall with the The showy pink flowers of prairie bush bush clover is considered a midwestern flowers loosely arranged on an open clover are less often seen than the "endemic" - i.e., a restricted to only spike. silvery-green pods because of the plant's a small area. short blooming season and its ability to The pale pink or cream colored flowers produce pods directly from flowers that Why be concerned about prairie bush bloom in mid-July. The entire plant has a never open. clover? grayish-silver sheen, making it easy to Like all native species, prairie bush distinguish from its more round-leaved clover has its own specific niche in the cultivated relative, the sweet clover What laws protect prairie bush clover? ecosystem and its own unique (Melilotus species). The only closely Prairie bush clover was listed as relationships to other plants and animals related bush clover species that is federally threatened in February with which it lives. The loss of prairie widespread throughout the range of 1987. It is protected by the 1988 bush clover could result in the prairie bush clover is the round headed reauthorization of the 1973 Endangered disappearance of as yet unknown bush clover (). This Species Act (PL 100-478). Under the dependent species such as tiny plant is similar in color but more robust, provisions of this act it is against predatory insects specialized to live on with leaflets about 1-1/2 inches long and Federal statutes to remove or destroy its seeds. 3/8 inches wide and a tight round prairie bush clover by any Federal flowering head. The more southern action or on any area under Federal Prairie bush clover possesses a unique Virginia bush clover (Lespedeza jurisdiction, or to knowingly violate any genetic and chemical makeup, different virginica) overlaps the range of prairie state law protecting this species. from that of any other species. This bush clover in Illinois. Although it has genetic information has an unknown slender leaves like the prairie bush In addition to its Federal status, prairie potential value. For example, cultivated clover, Virginia bush clover can be bush clover is listed as endangereed or crops such as wheat and corn have been distinguished by the fact that its leaves threatened in each of the four states developed and improved by using wild are closer together on the stem and its where it occurs. Specific provisions of relatives as breeding stock. Native and flowers are the brighter pink. state law vary from state to state and can be obtained from the appropriate Who knows the location of prairie bush managers. Research suggests that state contact listed at the end of this fact clover populations & how is this although summer fires can be sheet. information used? detrimental to emerging prairie bush Up-to-date information on the status clover plants, early spring fires are not As a general guideline, citizens should and location of populations is maintained harmful. contact these agencies before engaging in computerized databases of the state's Although prescribed burns are an in any action that would alter a Natural Heritage Program and is used important prairie management tool, population of prairie bush clover, for environmental review and burning every year, with no years of including the removal of plants or conservation planning. A federally- rest, may be harmful to prairie bush harvest of seeds for research purposes appointed recovery team uses this clover. Annual burns may result in a or commercial sale. information to plan for the protection of cover of native warm-season grasses the species and to assess progress It is not a violation of law for private that is too dense. toward its recovery. land owners to continue agricultural At times when fire cannot be used to activities on their own lands where Information from these databases is control shrubby invasion, handcutting or prairie bush clover occurs. Although available to consulting firms and state haying may be used to maintain the heavy summer grazing appears to have agencies preparing environmental open prairie condition required by an adverse effect on prairie bush clover, assessments of proposed projects. populations exposed to light grazing prairie bush clover for flowering. appear to be less affected. Where is prairie bush clover protected? Whom do I contact? Approximately 40 percent of the known In Illinois Contact: The effect of mowing remains unknown, prairie bush clover sites are protected Illinois Natural Areas Inventory although the concentration of bush as dedicated state nature preserves, clover in unmown areas of hayland Illinois Department of Conservation scientific and natural areas and 524 S. 2nd Street suggests that long term late-summer preserves managed by private mowing removes the seeds, thus Springfield, Illinois 62706 conservation organizations such as The (217/785-8774) reducing population size. Nature Conservancy. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Caution should be exerted to assure that A large number of prairie bush clover 4469 - 48th Avenue Court do not affect bush clover sites occur on private lands where Rock Island, Illinois 61201 populations. Users of herbicides should farmers or other landowners have (309/793-5800) always be sure to follow label directions maintained the species through In Iowa Contact: and restrictions. conservation-minded agricultural practices. Many landowners are proud Bureau of Preserves and Ecological Services to have such a rare species on their land Department of Natural Resources Why is prairie bush clover rare? Wallace State Office Building and keep the plant in mind when Prairie bush clover's rarity is probably Des Moines, Iowa 50319 planning agricultural activities. Prairie best explained by the loss of its (515/281-8524) bush clover persists on lightly grazed tall-grass prairie habitat. At the time of prairie pastures, haylands, and prairie U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service white settlement, native prairie covered remnants that families have maintained 4469 - 48th Avenue Court almost all of Illinois and Iowa, a third of for their own enjoyment. Rock Island, Illinois 61201 Minnesota and six percent of Wisconsin. (309/793-5800) Mesic moderately damp to dry prairie How are prairie bush clover preserves In Minnesota Contact: favored by prairie bush clover was also managed? Minnesota Natural Heritage Program prime cropland, and today only Prairie bush clover is one of many native Department of Natural Resources scattered remnants of prairie can be prairie species that occur in prairie Box 7, 500 Lafayette Road (Lespedeza leptostachya) found in the preserves. Before white settlement, St. Paul, Minnesota 55155 four states. Many of today's prairie bush frequent fires helped maintain the (651/296-3344) clover populations occur in sites that species composition and treeless U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service escaped the plow because they were too structure of the tall-grass 4101 E. 80th Street steep or rocky. prairie. Today's remnants are often Bloomington, Minnesota 55425-1665 invaded by non-native grasses which (612/725-3548) How is prairie bush clover threatened? create a buildup of mulch and by woody In Wisconsin Contact: Prairie bush clover is listed as a species which can shade out bush clover Bureau of Endangered Resources federally threatened species because it populations. For these reasons, natural Department of Natural Resources is jeopardized with the possibility of area managers have reintroduced P.O. Box 7921 extinction. Some of today's populations prescribed fires as a way of maintaining Madison, Wisconsin 53707 are threatened by conversion of pasture the natural balance of species in the (608/267-5037) to cropland, overgrazing, agricultural prairie ecosystem. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service expansion, application, urban 2061 Scott Tower Drive expansion, rock quarrying and right-of- Such fires are carefully planned and New Franken, Wisconsin 54229 way maintenance and rerouting. controlled by teams of trained (920/866-1700) Illinois Natural Areas April 2000