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The Common lespedeza (Kummerowia striata) belongs to Fabaceae (the Pea family). It is a perennial herb that is native to all over Japan, as well as Taiwan, Korean Peninsula and China. This herb grows in fields and roadsides, and can reach 15-40 cm in height. The leaves are trifoliate with oblong leaflets. The leaflets are lined with side veins diagonally, and when you pull the tip, it looks like an arrowhead. "Yahazu" is a pattern that resembles the wings of an arrow. The pale magenta flowers come on the axiles from August to October. It is a foodplant for Short-tailed blue (Everes argiades) and Eastern pale clouded yellow (Colias erate poliographus). In Taiwanese Chinese, it is called "鷄眼草", and "鶏眼草" (ji yan cao) in Chinese.
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