Sophora microphylla
{{Short description|Species of plant}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Kowhai in full bloom at Papakowhai School.jpg
|image_caption = Tree in full bloom
|genus = Sophora
|species = microphylla
|authority = Aiton
}}
Sophora microphylla, commonly known as weeping kōwhai and small-leaved kōwhai, is a species of flowering tree in the family Fabaceae native to New Zealand. It is the most widespread of the eight species of kōwhai (the New Zealand Sophora). It is also called South Island kōwhai, although this name is misleading as it is widely distributed throughout the main islands of the country.
Growing to {{convert|8|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} tall and broad, it is an evergreen shrub or small tree. Each leaf is {{convert|10|cm|0|abbr=on}} long with up to 40 pairs of shiny oval leaflets. It produces many racemes of pea-like yellow flowers{{cite book |title=RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants|year=2008|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|location=United Kingdom|isbn=978-1405332965|pages=1136}} from August or as early as May through to October.{{cite web |last=de Lange |first=P. J. |title=Sophora microphylla |url= https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/sophora-microphylla/ |publisher=New Zealand Plant Conservation Network |accessdate=17 October 2023}} The specific epithet microphylla means "small-leaved".{{cite book |last=Harrison |first=Lorraine |title=RHS Latin for gardeners|year=2012|publisher=Mitchell Beazley|location=United Kingdom|isbn=9781845337315|pages=224}} The plant has smaller leaflets (around 3–6 mm long by 2–5 mm wide) and flowers (1.8-5.0 cm long) than the other well known species, Sophora tetraptera (large-leaved kōwhai). When young S. microphylla has a divaricating and bushy growth habit with many interlacing branches, which begins to disappear as the tree ages.{{cite web |title=Facts about kōwhai |url=http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/native-plants/kowhai/facts/ |publisher=Department of Conservation |accessdate=10 May 2012}}
It occurs throughout the main islands of New Zealand, though is scarce in parts of Northland and parts of the eastern North Island from East Cape south to northern Wairarapa.
The cultivar {{tdes|Sun King}} 'Hilsop' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - Sophora microphylla 'Hilsop' |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/332389/sophora-microphylla-sun-king/details|accessdate=6 February 2022}}{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf | title = AGM Plants - Ornamental | date = July 2017 | page = 98 | publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | accessdate = 12 November 2018}}
Ecology
Sophora microphylla is one of three known native species that hosts the native longhorn beetle Coptomma variegatum.{{CiteQ|Q56166058}}
Pre-human forests
Studies of accumulated dried vegetation in the pre-human mid-late Holocene period suggests a low Sophora microphylla forest ecosystem in Central Otago that was used and perhaps maintained by giant moa birds, for both nesting material and food. Neither the forests nor moa existed when European settlers came to the area in the 1850s.{{Cite journal|last=Pole|first=Mike|date=2021-12-31|title=A vanished ecosystem: Sophora microphylla (Kōwhai) dominated forest recorded in mid-late Holocene rock shelters in Central Otago, New Zealand|url=https://palaeo-electronica.org/content/2022/3503-vanished-ecosystem|journal=Palaeontologia Electronica|language=English|volume=25|issue=1|pages=1–41|doi=10.26879/1169|issn=1094-8074|doi-access=free}}
Sophora-microphylla-foliage.jpg|Foliage
Sophora microphylla.(Kowhai) (14901091036).jpg|Flowers
Sophora microphylla MHNT.BOT.2008.1.46.jpg|Seeds
References
{{Wikicommons}}
{{Reflist}}
{{New Zealand Sophora Species}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q7563131}}