lespedeza

[Named after M. Lespedez, a former governor of Florida, and a great patron of botany.] Bot.: A genus of Papilionacese, tribe and sub-tribe Hedysareæ. It consists of very showy flowers. Les pedeza striata , the Japan Clover, is a valuable American fodder-plant. *le , conj . (UNLESS.) Unle . -le , suff . [A. S.- leás ; Goth. -laus ; Icel. -lau ; O. S. -los ; O. H. Ger. -laos , -los , all loose (q. v.).] A suffix commonly used in English to form adjectives with negative or privative meaning; father, fatherle having no father; faith, faithle =desti tute of faith, .