64 SILVA OF NORTH AMERICA. LEGUMINOS&. 
of streams, often forming broad thickets or small groves in low rather moist limestone soil, and reaches 
its greatest size in the neighborhood of Matagorda Bay. Farther south and west, especially west of 
the Pecos River, it is rarely more than a shrub. 
The wood of Sophora secundifiora is very heavy, hard, and close-grained, with numerous thin 
medullary rays and a compact satiny surface: it is orange-colored streaked with red. The sapwood is 
thick, bright yellow, and composed of ten or twelve layers of annual growth. The specific gravity of 
the absolutely dry wood is 0.9842, a cubic foot weighing 61.34 pounds. It is valuable as fuel. 
Sophora secundiflora was first noticed in Texas by Lindheimer’ in the neighborhood of New 
Braunfels and on the shores of Matagorda Bay. It appears to have been introduced into the Botanic 
Garden at Madrid towards the end of the last century, and the earliest description, that of Ortega, was 
drawn up from the cultivated plant ; it was in cultivation in the Jardin des Plantes in Paris? in 1854, 
and is occasionally found in the gardens of southern Europe. 
Sophora secundiflora is one of the handsomest of the small trees of the Texas forests; its lustrous 
persistent foliage, large and fragrant flowers, conspicuous fruit, and brilliant seeds make it a desirable 
garden ornament in all regions where the climate is sufficiently temperate to develop its beauties. 
1 See i. 74. 2 Rev. Hort. 1854, 201, f. 11. 
EXPLANATION OF THE PLATE. 
PLatE CXXI. SopHora sECUNDIFLORA. 
. A flowering branch, natural size. 
. Diagram of a flower. 
The petals of a flower displayed, natural size. 
. A calyx, enlarged. 
A flower, a portion of the calyx and the petals removed, enlarged. 
. A pistil, enlarged. 
. Vertical section of an ovary, enlarged. 
An ovule, much magnified. 
. A cluster of fruit, natural size. 
f= 
. Vertical section of a legume, natural size. 
POD MAAN P WH 
ray 
. Vertical section of a seed, natural size. 
12. An embryo, enlarged. 
