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Sophora tomentosa L.
| Family Name: | Fabaceae (Leguminosae) |
| Common Name: | Silver Bush, Necklace Pod, 绒毛槐 |
Sophora tomentosa is an attractive shrub with showy pea-shaped flowers, fruit pods resembling strings of beads and attractive leaves with silvery short hairs on the underside, hence the common name Silver Bush. Easy to grow, this plant is ideally planted as a specimen shrub in parks, gardens and coastal areas.
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Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub, Tree (Shrubby (1m-5m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 4.5 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Pantropical (tropical Africa, Asia, America, Pacific and Australia). |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Coastal Forest, Grassland / Savannah/ Scrubland, Disturbed Area / Open Ground), Shoreline (Sandy Beach) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a shrub or small tree up to 4.5 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Its stalked leaves have primary leaflets (pinnae) that are up to 18 cm long, and 11–15 pairs of secondary leaflets. Its slightly leathery leaf blades are oval or rounded, covered densely with gray-white hair below, without hair above, and 2.5–5 by 2–3.5 cm. |
| Stems | Young branches are shortly tomentose. |
| Flowers | Its pea-shaped flowers grow in dense clusters on flowering shoots that are up to 20 cm long. The flowers are yellow or whitish, about 17 by 10 mm, with a claw that is about 3 mm long, wings that are long and oval, and a keel that is slightly shorter than the wings. |
| Fruit | Its fruit pods resemble strings of beads, covered with short hair, measuring 7–10 cm long by 0.9–1 cm wide. Its seeds are numerous, brown, and round. |
| Habitat | It grows on sand dunes, seashores, and open grassland along the beach. |
| Associated Fauna | It is the preferred local food plant for the caterpillars of the moths Mesophleps epiochra, Mesophleps palpigera, Uresiphita polygonalis, and Uresiphita reversalis. |
| Cultivation | It can be propagated by seed. Plant grows well in well-drained soil and able to withstand salt spray, thus suitable for coastal planting. |
| Etymology | The genus Sophora, is an Arabic name for a pea-flowered tree; while the Latin tomentosa means thickly matted with hair, possibly referring to the undersides of leaves. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Medicinal: Its seed oil is reputed to be a good expectorant and can be applied externally to soothe painful bones. A decoction of the seeds and roots is given in bilious disorders. A decoction of the seeds, roots or bark has been used against cholera. Its pounded seeds are used to cure colic and dysentery. Smaller doses are applied as an antidote in food poisoning and stings of poisonous fish, as well as to treat haemoptysis, painful urination and gonorrhea. Its root-bark can be also used to treat poisoning. Timber & Products: Its timber is hard and heavy, which can be used for small objects. Others: In East Africa, it is used as a fish poison. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | It is suitable for parks, small gardens and roadsides. |
|---|---|
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Fruits |
| Landscape Uses | General, Suitable for Roadsides, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Coastal, Beachfront / Shoreline, Hedge / Screening |
| Thematic Landscaping | Silver Garden |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Butterfly-Attracting, Caterpillar Moth Food Plant |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Butterfly, Moth)) |
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Abiotic (Water) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water, Little Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast to Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Drought Tolerant, Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Saline Soils / Salt Spray, Poor Infertile Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Silver / Grey |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Hairy / Hirsute, Velvety / Furry / Tomentose |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Green |
| Young Flush Texture(s) | |
| Foliar Type | Compound |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Oval) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Rounded |
| Foliar Base | Rounded / Obtuse |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Trunk Type (Non Palm) | Woody |
|---|---|
| Stem Type & Modification | Woody |
| Root Type | Underground |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Flower Symmetry | Bilateral |
| Individual Flower Shape | Papilionaceous / Pea-shaped |
| Inflorescence Type | Raceme |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Brown |
|---|---|
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Hairy / Hirsute |
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | |
| Mature Seed Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Numerous (>20) |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 31328 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 5725 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |