Practical
Plants

Sophora tetraptera

Kowhai

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Sophora genus in the family Leguminosae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Sophora
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
10 m
Spread
6 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant contains cytosine, which resembles nicotine and is similarly toxic[7].

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Wood - compact, dense, heavy, of great strength, tough, elastic, extremely durable. Used for bearings, turnery, cabinet work, ornamental uses etc[9][10][2].

Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Nitrogen fixer

Environment

Range
New Zealand and S. America - Chile.
Habitat
Streamsides, forest margins and lowland on North Island in New Zealand, from East Cape to latitude 40° 30's[8].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse[4]. Pre-soak stored seed for 12 hours in hot (not boiling) water and sow in late winter in a greenhouse[11]. Prick out the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle into individual pots in the greenhouse, and grow them on for 2 years under protected conditions. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer of their third year. Cuttings of young shoots with a heel, July/August in a frame[1]. Air-layering[4].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in a well-drained moderately fertile soil in full sun[4]. Requires a warm sheltered position[5]. It grows best in the warmer areas of the country where the wood will be more readily ripened and better able to withstand winter cold[6]. Hardy to about -10°c[4], it succeeds in the open in southern and south-western Britain but is best grown against a wall elsewhere[1][3]. Plants are of slow to moderate growth[5]. In good summers plants set abundant seed in this country[6]. Plants should be container-grown and planted out whilst young, older plants do not transplant well[6]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[4]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[4].

References

  1. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. ? Flora of Chile. (in Spanish)

    ↩

  3. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  5. Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-670-82929-3

    ↩1↩2

  6. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩

  8. Allan. H. H. Flora of New Zealand. Government Printer, Wellington. 1961-00-00

    ↩

  9. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  10. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  11. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

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