Sophora microphylla, commonly known as weeping kōwhai and small-leaved kōwhai, is a species of flowering tree in the family Fabaceae native to New Zealand. It is the most widespread of the eight species of kōwhai (the New Zealand Sophora). It is also called South Island kōwhai, although this name is misleading as it is widely distributed throughout the main islands of the country.
Growing to 8 m (26 ft) tall and broad, it is an evergreen shrub or small tree. Each leaf is 10 cm (4 in) long with up to 40 pairs of shiny oval leaflets. It produces many racemes of pea-like yellow flowers[1] from August or as early as May through to October.[2] The specific epithetmicrophylla means "small-leaved".[3] The plant has smaller leaflets (around 3–6 mm long by 2–5 mm wide) and flowers (1.8-5.0 cm long)[2] than the other well known species, Sophora tetraptera (large-leaved kōwhai). When young S. microphylla has a divaricating and bushy growth habit with many interlacing branches, which begins to disappear as the tree ages.[4]
It occurs throughout the main islands of New Zealand, though is scarce in parts of Northland and parts of the eastern North Island from East Cape south to northern Wairarapa.[2]
Studies of accumulated dried vegetation in the pre-human mid-late Holocene period suggests a low Sophora microphylla forest ecosystem in Central Otago that was used and perhaps maintained by giant moa birds, for both nesting material and food. Neither the forests nor moa existed when European settlers came to the area in the 1850s.[8]
Foliage
Flowers
Seeds
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sophora microphylla.
^RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN978-1405332965.
^ abcde Lange, P. J. "Sophora microphylla". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
^Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN9781845337315.
^"Facts about kōwhai". Department of Conservation. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
^"AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 98. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
^Manson, Jessamyn; Rasmann, Sergio (2012). "Cardenolides in nectar may be more than a consequence of allocation to other plant parts: a phylogenetic study of Asclepias". Functional Ecology. 26 (5): 1100–1110. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2435.2012.02039.x.
^Pole, Mike (2021-12-31). "A vanished ecosystem: Sophora microphylla (Kōwhai) dominated forest recorded in mid-late Holocene rock shelters in Central Otago, New Zealand". Palaeontologia Electronica. 25 (1): 1–41. doi:10.26879/1169. ISSN 1094-8074.
January 01, 1970
sophora, microphylla, commonly, known, weeping, kōwhai, small, leaved, kōwhai, species, flowering, tree, family, fabaceae, native, zealand, most, widespread, eight, species, kōwhai, zealand, sophora, also, called, south, island, kōwhai, although, this, name, m. Sophora microphylla commonly known as weeping kōwhai and small leaved kōwhai is a species of flowering tree in the family Fabaceae native to New Zealand It is the most widespread of the eight species of kōwhai the New Zealand Sophora It is also called South Island kōwhai although this name is misleading as it is widely distributed throughout the main islands of the country Sophora microphylla Tree in full bloom Scientific classification Kingdom Plantae Clade Tracheophytes Clade Angiosperms Clade Eudicots Clade Rosids Order Fabales Family Fabaceae Subfamily Faboideae Genus Sophora Species S microphylla Binomial name Sophora microphyllaAiton Growing to 8 m 26 ft tall and broad it is an evergreen shrub or small tree Each leaf is 10 cm 4 in long with up to 40 pairs of shiny oval leaflets It produces many racemes of pea like yellow flowers 1 from August or as early as May through to October 2 The specific epithet microphylla means small leaved 3 The plant has smaller leaflets around 3 6 mm long by 2 5 mm wide and flowers 1 8 5 0 cm long 2 than the other well known species Sophora tetraptera large leaved kōwhai When young S microphylla has a divaricating and bushy growth habit with many interlacing branches which begins to disappear as the tree ages 4 It occurs throughout the main islands of New Zealand though is scarce in parts of Northland and parts of the eastern North Island from East Cape south to northern Wairarapa 2 The cultivar Sun King Hilsop has gained the Royal Horticultural Society s Award of Garden Merit 5 6 Its nectar is toxic to the honeybee 7 Pre human forests editStudies of accumulated dried vegetation in the pre human mid late Holocene period suggests a low Sophora microphylla forest ecosystem in Central Otago that was used and perhaps maintained by giant moa birds for both nesting material and food Neither the forests nor moa existed when European settlers came to the area in the 1850s 8 nbsp Foliage nbsp Flowers nbsp SeedsReferences edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sophora microphylla RHS A Z encyclopedia of garden plants United Kingdom Dorling Kindersley 2008 p 1136 ISBN 978 1405332965 a b c de Lange P J Sophora microphylla New Zealand Plant Conservation Network Retrieved 17 October 2023 Harrison Lorraine 2012 RHS Latin for gardeners United Kingdom Mitchell Beazley p 224 ISBN 9781845337315 Facts about kōwhai Department of Conservation Retrieved 10 May 2012 RHS Plant Selector Sophora microphylla Hilsop Retrieved 6 February 2022 AGM Plants Ornamental PDF Royal Horticultural Society July 2017 p 98 Retrieved 12 November 2018 Manson Jessamyn Rasmann Sergio 2012 Cardenolides in nectar may be more than a consequence of allocation to other plant parts a phylogenetic study of Asclepias Functional Ecology 26 5 1100 1110 doi 10 1111 j 1365 2435 2012 02039 x Pole Mike 2021 12 31 A vanished ecosystem Sophora microphylla Kōwhai dominated forest recorded in mid late Holocene rock shelters in Central Otago New Zealand Palaeontologia Electronica 25 1 1 41 doi 10 26879 1169 ISSN 1094 8074 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sophora microphylla amp oldid 1180998577, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
