Dermatophyllum secundiflorum (Ortega) Gandhi & Reveal

TSO logo

Sponsor this page

For information about how you could sponsor this page, see How You Can Help

Credits

Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles

Recommended citation
'Dermatophyllum secundiflorum' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/dermatophyllum/dermatophyllum-secundiflorum/). Accessed 2025-04-18.

Family

  • Fabaceae

Genus

Synonyms

  • Broussonetia secundiflora Ortega
  • Virgilia secundiflora (Ortega) Cav.
  • Sophora secundiflora (Ortega) Lag. ex DC.

Other taxa in genus

    Glossary

    imparipinnate
    Odd-pinnate; (of a compound leaf) with a central rachis and an uneven number of leaflets due to the presence of a terminal leaflet. (Cf. paripinnate.)

    References

    There are no active references in this article.

    Credits

    Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles

    Recommended citation
    'Dermatophyllum secundiflorum' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/dermatophyllum/dermatophyllum-secundiflorum/). Accessed 2025-04-18.

    Editorial Note

    Treated by Bean under the genus Sophora, from which it has since been segregated. Distinguished by its coriaceous leaflets, flower colour (blue, violet or white), toothed or lobed calyces and North American distribution (Gandhi, Vincent & Reveal 2011).

    We have published this stub genus article as part of a wider reorganisation of Fabaceae articles. This is part of a programme of work beginning in early 2025 to bring the nomenclature of articles in line with modern treatments. Historic Bean text will appear under its correct modern name, with appropriate synonymy, until we have funding to update the articles entirely. If you would like to sponsor this genus please contact editor@treesandshrubsonline.org

    An evergreen tree 25 to 35 ft high with pinnate leaves 4 to 6 in. long, made up usually of seven or nine oblong or obovate leaflets which are 1 to 2 in. long, notched at the end. Flowers produced in racemes 2 or 3 in. long at the end of the leafy young shoots of the current year in spring. Each flower (of the normal pea-flower shape) is about 1 in. long, violet-blue and very fragrant (like violets).

    Native of Texas, New Mexico, and North Mexico. It was figured by Ortega, the Spanish botanist in 1798 from a plant that flowered in Madrid. Decaisne, who figured it in the Revue Horticole, 1854, p. 201, observes that it withstands easily the climate of the midi of France. I do not know that it has been tried out-of-doors yet in this country but it is only likely to succeed in the sunniest, warmest localities and is better fitted no doubt for the south of Europe. It would be worthwhile trying it on a south wall, for Sargent describes it as one of the handsomest of small trees in the Texan forest, and hardy trees with fragrant violet-blue flowers are very rare.