212 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



Sophora tetraptera {The Yelloiu Koivhai). 



A handsome tree, sometimes 40 ft. in height, with pinnate leaves and large 

 gold-coloured blossoms. Leaves curled in bud, like the fronds of a fern. The 

 trees are often bare of leaves in the early spring, and the flowers are produced in 

 the axils of the leafless branches. Leaflets very variable, in from 6-40 pairs. 

 Calyx greenish ; stamens hanging loosely below the petals. Standard scarcely 

 reflexed. Pods 1 in. -5 in. long, with four membranous wings. Both islands. 

 Fl. Sept. Maori name Kowhai. 



Var. grandiflora. Trunk sometimes .3 ft. in diameter. Flowers large, deep- 

 coloured ; standard slightly reflexed. Leaflets in 10-25 pairs. 



Var. microjihylla. Standard not reflexed. Stamens exserted. Leaflets in 

 25-40 pairs. Flowers rather broader than in grandiflora. 



Var. prostrata. Stems prostrate. Flowers small. Stamens exserted. 

 Leaflets in 2-4 pairs. 



We have followed the usual practice of botanists in separating 

 the New Zealand species of Sophora into three varieties, but 

 this discrimination is by no means satisfactory. The life 

 histories of the various foi'ms are at present insufficiently 

 known, and no doubt, when they are more fully studied, 

 several species will be created. It can scarcely be doubted but 

 that the variety grandiflora is entitled to specific rank. 

 Again, a common North Island form is deciduous, and 

 produces in early spring, before the bursting of the leaves, 

 dense masses of pale yellow blooms. S. microphylla goes 

 through two distinct stages in its development. In the first, 

 it is a flexuose shrub with wiry, yellowish, interlacing stems, 

 and a few small leaves. When the plant is from eight to 

 twelve feet in height this is gradually replaced by the mature 

 form, which has a rounded leafy head, naked trunk, and 

 straight brown branches. Dr. Cockayne informs us that 

 neither the typical form, nor 8. grandiflora, goes through the 

 " scrubby " stage, but assumes the mature leafy form at 

 once. 



The distribution of S. tetraptera outside of New Zealand is 

 generally given as South Chili, Juan Fernandez, Easter Island, 

 and Lord Howe Island. However, it may be doubted whether 

 one and the same species is to be found in all these widely 

 separated districts. It has been shown again and again, that 



