wand bushclover, Lespedeza violacea

Wand bushclover was named Lespedeza violacea in 1807. Communication was a bit iffy in those days. Sometime after that someone began calling it L. intermedia. Then someone began using L. violacea for plants that are properly L. frutescens. It was only a few years ago that someone carefully examined the original specimens again, and discovered this oops. In order to avoid confusion, there are rules for plant names. The rule of priority says original names must be respected. So here we are, and if you pick up a reference more than a decade or two old, you will find the previous confusion. Rules are rules, and new publications have reversed the confusion. Not eliminated it, but reversed it! Wand bushclover grows in dry woods and openings in AL, AR, CT, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV, and ON. Lenawee Co MI, 7/22/16.