'21'2 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



Sophora tetraptera iTlic Yellow Ktnuliai). 



A htuidsome tree, sometimes 40 ft. in height, with pinnate lea^'es and largo 

 gold-coloured hlossoms. Leaves curled iu liud, like the fronds of a fern. The 

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

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

 (-'alyx greenish ; stamens hanging loosely below the petals. Standard scarcely 

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

 Fi. Sept. ^laori name KuirJtai. 



Yar. tjntntlijhjrn. Trunk sometimes 3 ft. in diameter. Flowers large, deep- 

 coloured ; standard slightly reflexed. Leaflets in 10-'i5 pairs. 



A'ar. iincroplnjUa. Standard not reflexed. Stamens exserted. Leaflets in 

 'J.':»-40 pairs. Flowers rather broader than in grandiftora. 



A^ar. jirostrafii. Stems prostrate. Flowers small. Stamens exserted. 

 Leaflets in 2-4 pairs. 



We liave followed the usual practice of botanists in separating 

 the New Zealand species of Bopliora into three varieties, but 

 this discviinination is by no nieatis satisfactory. The life 

 If i stories of the various forms are at present insufficiently 

 known, and tio doubt, when they are more fully studied, 

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

 that the variety {/randiffora is entitled to specific rank. 

 Again, a conimoir North Island form is deciduous, and 

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

 dense masses of pale yellow blooms. S. micyophijUa goes 

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

 it is a fiexuose shrul) with wtry, 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 tbrm, nor .S'. f/ra)idiflura, goes through tire 

 " scruljl^y " stage, Ijut assumes the ifiature leafy form at 

 once. 



The distribution of S. tctraptcra outside of New Zealaird is 

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

 and Lord II(jwe Island. Howevei', it may be doubted whether 

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

 sepai'ated disti'icts. It has been shown again aird again, that 



