Sophora tetraptera

Sophora tetraptera, commonly known as large-leaved kōwhai, is a tree that grows naturally in the central east of the North Island of New Zealand. It has larger, more widely spaced, leaflets than the other seven species of kōwhai.

Large-leaved kōwhai flowers
Botanical Magazine vol. 5: t. 167 (1792) S.T.Edwards

Sophora tetraptera
Large-leaved kōwhai foliage (from Taupō)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Sophora
Species:
S. tetraptera
Binomial name
Sophora tetraptera

Etymology

The generic name Sophora is from the Arabic sophora (any tree with pea-flowers). The specific epithet tetraptera is from Greek and means four-winged, referring to the fruits.[3]

Description

It grows as a tree up to 15 metres tall. Its leaves are 100–220 mm long, with leaflets 15–40 mm long. The leaflets are larger and more widely-spaced than on other kōwhai. Its yellow flowers appear from October (or as early as September) to December.[4]

Distribution and habitat

It occurs naturally in the east of the North Island of New Zealand, from East Cape south to the Wairarapa, and west toward Taihape, Lake Taupō and down the Waikato River to about Lake Karapiro. It commonly grows in forest and scrub in coastal areas, and lowland areas beside rivers and lakes. It can also grow in the ranges along rivers.[4]

References
  1. "Sophora tetraptera". Australian Plant Name Index, IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
  2. Mueller, J.S. (1780) Icones Novae: t. 1
  3. Crittenden, F.J. (ed.) (1951) The Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening, (4 vols), Clarendon Press, Oxford.
  4. de Lange, P. J. "Sophora tetraptera". nzpcn.org.nz. New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 28 November 2015.

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