Kowhai (Sophora microphylla)
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Sophora
Scientific name: Sophora microphylla
Common name: Kowhai
Kowhai are small, woody legume trees in the genus Sophora native to New Zealand. There are eight species, Sophora microphylla being the most common. Kowhai trees grow throughout the country and are a common feature in New Zealand gardens. Most species of Kowhai grow to around 8 m high and have fairly smooth bark with small leaves. Sophora microphylla has smaller leaves (5–7 mm long by 3–4 mm wide) and flowers (2.5-3.5 cm long) than S. tetraptera which has leaves of 1–2 cm long and flowers that are 3 cm-5 cm long. The very distinctive, almost segmented pods, which appear after flowering each contain six or more smooth, hard, yellow seeds. These seeds can be very numerous and the presence of many hundreds of these distinctively yellow seeds on the ground quickly identifies the presence of a nearby Kowhai tree. Many other Kowhai trees lose most of their leaves immediately after flowering in October or November but quickly produce new leaves.
Te ngahere-forest lore: When the bright yellow flowers of kowhai bloom, in late winter and early spring, it is time to plant kumara (sweet potato). Pigment for yellow dye was extracted from the flowers, and the flexible branches were good for making houses and bird snares.
The Kowhai's bark and seeds are poisonous
A very large Sophora microphylla growing in a private garden in New Plymouth (click photo to enlarge)
Photographed early September, Click on image to enlarge.
Both the Tui and the Wood pigeon feed off this tree
A cultivar of Sophora microphylla. NB flowering while it has its leaves.
A cultivar of Sophora microphylla
Kowhai seeds and the seed pod
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