Dermatophyllum secundiflorum (Ortega) Gandhi & Reveal

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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 2025-05-20.

Family

Fabaceae

Genus

Dermatophyllum

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

Sophora secundiflora is a most desirable shrub or small tree for warm-summer climates, with its showy racemes of scented, violet-blue flowers contrasting with rather dark evergreen leaves (Fredericksburg, Texas, USA – 2 March 2024). Image Julian Sutton.

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.

For a couple of weeks at the end of winter the gardens and public spaces of Central Texas towns are full of the colour and scent of Sophora secundiflora (San Antonio, Texas, USA – 29 February 2024). Image Julian Sutton.

Sophora secundiflora foliage in late summer (Orto Botanico di Lucca, Italy, September 2023). Image John Grimshaw.

Variants of Sophora secundiflora with white or palest violet flowers occasionally turn up in wild populations (Crockett Co., Texas, USA – 4 March 2024). Image Julian Sutton.

At its largest Sophora secundiflora makes a loose, usually multistemmed small tree (wild plant in Government Canyon State Park, Texas, USA – 10 March 2024). Image Julian Sutton.

Sophora secundiflora as a shrub on a sunny limestone hillside with Juniperus ashei (wild plant in South Llano River State Park, Texas, USA – 3 March 2024). Image Julian Sutton.

The indehiscent woody pods of Sophora secundiflora are often retained on the plant for many months. They contain 1 (as here) to 3 seeds (Austin, Texas, USA – 24 February 2024). Image Julian Sutton.

When crushed, the pods of Sophora secundiflora reveal the brilliant scarlet (and extremely poisonous) seeds (San Antonio, Texas, USA – 11 March 2024). Image Julian Sutton.