Striving to enhance the quality of life in Southeast Kansas

See-Kan RC&D Project, Inc

Noxious Weed of the Month

Brought to you by the Southeast Kansas Weed Management Area

Proudly Thanking our Sponsors of the Southeast Kansas Weed Management Area

Sericea Lespedexa (Lespedeza Cuneata)

Fabacaeae (Bean Family)

 

 

Sericea Facts

Sericea flowers from mid July to October.  Tannin collects in the plant and makes it unpalatable in the last half of the growing season,

 

Sericea History

Sericea is a perennial legume which was introduced to this country in 1869 from Asia.  Originally it was to be used for livestock forage, erosion control and wildlife habitat.  In Southeastern states sericea is an important crop, but we have discovered it is very invasive to native tall grass prairies.  It was also discovered to be a less than desirable forage crop here in the Midwest.  In 1988, in Kansas, sericea was declared a county option list as a noxious weed.  Sericea can be found in CRP, rangeland, and along roads in waste areas.  It is very hardy and resistant to drought.  Leaves are arranged in groups of 3 leaflets.  Leaves are less than 1 to 11/2 inch in length and about 1/3 inch wide.  Sericea spreads mainly by seed, and a single mature healthy plant can produce over 1,000 seeds!  The seeds are spread by water, infested hay, livestock, wildlife, and birds.  Seeds can remain viable for over 30 years, so sericea is a long term problem.

 

Control Methods

Grazing goats and mowing are not eradication methods, but partial control methods.  There are no approved biological control methods.  Chemical control of sericea includes:  Metsulfuron methyl, Triclopyr, Triclopyr + Flurxypyr.

 

How to prevent the spread of sericia:

                 Work on infestations early.

                 Be cautious in moving hay to weed free areas.

                 Check any grass seed you buy.

 

 

 

 

If you need any information about noxious weed control in your area contact your county noxious weed director.

Noxious Weed Departments:

Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Butler, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Coffey, Cowley, Crawford, Elk, Franklin, Greenwood, Labette, Linn, Miami, Montgomery, Neosho, Osage, Wilson and Woodson

Kansas Dept. of Ag