Sophora microphylla
Credits
New article for Trees and Shrubs Online.
Recommended citation
'Sophora microphylla' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.
Genus
Synonyms
- Edwardsia grandiflora var. microphylla (Aiton) Hook.f.
- Edwardsia microphylla (Aiton) Salisb.
- Sophora tetraptera var. microphylla (Aiton) Hook.f.
Editorial Note
Bean discussed Sophora microphylla beneath his account of S. tetraptera. We have separated his text here into its own article pending a full revision of the genus.
TC, July 2024.
A tree to about 30 ft high, usually going through a more or less prolonged juvenile state during which it forms a dense bush with slender intertwining branches. Leaflets smaller than in S. tetraptera, up to 3⁄8 in. long at the most, and usually more numerous (up to forty pairs). Flowers as in that species but the standard petal relatively longer, about equalling the wings or a little longer. Bot. Mag., t. 3735. This species is more widely spread in New Zealand than S. tetraptera, occurring on both the main islands and on Chatham Island. It was introduced at the same time. Both were planted in the Chelsea Physic Garden in 1774 and the plant of S. microphylla that still grows there on a wall of the main building is probably a descendant of the original Banks plant. It is hardy there and produces self-sown seedlings. This species received an Award of Merit in 1951.
