Description from
Flora of China
Lespedeza delavayi Franchet, Pl. Delavay. 165. 1890; L. atrokermesina Forrest.
Shrubs, 1-3 m tall. Young branches densely appressed whitish sericeous. Petiole 1-3 cm, densely appressed whitish sericeous; stipels absent; leaflets obovate to oblong, terminal one 1.5-7 × 1.3-5.7 cm, leathery, abaxially with dense appressed whitish sericeous hairs, adaxially glabrous, base obtuse or rounded, apex retuse and mucronulate. Racemes ± densely flowered, 2-11 cm, often paniculate; rachis and pedicels with dense spreading whitish short hairs and glandular hairs; bracts narrowly ovate, usually shorter than 3 mm. Pedicels 2-4 mm. Calyx with dense appressed whitish sericeous hairs and sparse glandular hairs; tube 1.6-2.5 mm; lobes narrowly triangular, 4.3-5.5 mm. Corolla dark purple; standard elliptic, 10-13 mm, apex obtuse; wings ca. 12.5 mm, clawed at base; keel ca. 14.5 mm, clawed at base. Ovary 2.2-2.5 mm; style incurved, 10-10.5 mm. Legume obliquely elliptic, 6-7 × 4-5 mm, shortly appressed hairy, apex obtuse. Seeds purplish brown, reniform, ca. 1.7 × 2.7 mm. Fl. Oct-Dec, fr. Nov-Dec.
The roots are used medicinally for reducing fevers.
● Mountain slopes, thickets, sunny grasslands; 400-2200 m. Sichuan, Yunnan.
