Sophora davidii
(Franch.) Pavol.
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(c) Ran Dai, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Ran Dai
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) 莲子, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Summary
Deciduous shrub reaching 2.5 m tall with slow growth, flowering June to July and ripening seed August to October. Hermaphroditic flowers in full sun. Nitrogen-fixing species tolerating light sandy, medium loamy, or heavy clay soils from mildly acid to very alkaline pH. Prefers dry or moist soil.
Description
A shrub or small tree. It grows 1-2 m tall and can be slightly taller. The leaves are 2-7 cm long. There are 11-19 leaflets that are oval or oblong and 5-20 mm long. The flowers are small and white or pale yellow with some red or purple marks. The pods are 6-8 cm long by 0.6 cm wide. There are 3-5 seeds.
Edible Uses
The flowers are edible, though no further details are available.
Medicinal Uses
None known
Distribution
It is a temperate plant. It grows in sandy places in valleys below 3,400 m above sea level. In Yunnan.
Where It Grows
Asia, China, Slovenia,
Propagation
Seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse. Stored seed should be pre-soaked for 12 hours in hot (not boiling) water, then sown in late winter in a greenhouse. Prick out seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle, and grow them on under protected conditions for 2 years before planting out into permanent positions in early summer of the third year. Cuttings of young shoots with a heel can be taken in July or August in a frame. Air-layering is also an option.
Other Uses
None known
Also Known As
Grašičnolistna sofora
References (2)
- http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/en/plants
- Liu, Yi-tao, & Long, Chun-Lin, 2002, Studies on Edible Flowers Consumed by Ethnic Groups in Yunnan. Acta Botanica Yunnanica. 24(1):41-56
