Sophora prostrata
Common name
kōwhai, prostrate kōwhai
Synonyms
Sophora tetraptera var. prostrata (Buchanan) Kirk; Edwardsia prostrata (Buchanan) W.R.B.Oliv.; Sophora microphylla subsp. microphylla var. prostrata (Buchanan) Yakovlev
Family
Fabaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
SOPPRO
Chromosome number
2n = 18
Current conservation status
The threat classification status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2017 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: By Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, John W. Barkla, Shannel P. Courtney, Paul D. Champion, Leon R. Perrie, Sarah M. Beadel, Kerry A. Ford, Ilse Breitwieser, Ines Schönberger, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Peter B. Heenan and Kate Ladley. Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – a suggested threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | Not Threatened
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Brief description
A small dense kowhai tree to 2m tall with zig-zagging branches bearing leaves to 25mm long that have leaflets 4mm long and with drooping orange-yellow flowers and dry ridged and knobbly pointed seed pods to 5cm long containing hard brown seeds. Juveniles and adults similar. Inhabiting the eastern South Island.
Distribution
Endemic. Confined to the eastern South Island from Marlborough to the Waitaki Valley
Flower colours
Orange, Yellow
Etymology
sophora: After the Arabic name for a similar tree
prostrata: Prostrate
References and further reading
Anonymous. 1944. Kowhai. Wellington Botanical Society Bulletin, 9: 4-5