Sophora molloyi
| Sophora molloyi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Cook Strait kōwhai (Dragon's Gold pictured) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Tribe: | Sophoreae |
| Genus: | Sophora |
| Species: | S. molloyi |
| Binomial name | |
| Sophora molloyi Heenan et de Lange | |
Cook Strait kōwhai (Sophora molloyi), also known as Molloy's kōwhai or Stephen's Island kōwhai, is one of 8 species of native sophora or kōwhai in New Zealand and grows naturally around the Cook Strait region of New Zealand. It is named after Dr. Brian Molloy of Landcare Research, who was a researcher and scientist there for more than 30 years.[1] It was first described as a species in 2001.
Description
Cook Strait kōwhai forms a small compact bush and can become quite wide but only grows to about head height.[2] It is an early flowering species, and normally flowers between April and October. Flowers are yellow and around 3 cm long.[3] Unlike other kowhai S. molloyi retains its leaves all year round.[4] It also doesn't have a divaricating juvenile stage when gown from seed.[1]
Conservation
Using the New Zealand Threat Classification System as a guide, S. molloyi was rated in 2012 as being "at risk - naturally uncommon". Cook Strait kōwhai was previously rated in 2004 as being at risk from its restricted range.[5]
Cultivation
In horticulture it is sold as the two varieties Dragons Gold and Early Gold,[6] which were both sourced from Stephens Island and are now popular garden plants.
- The cultivar Dragons Gold was selected by Terry Hatch of Joy Plants and came from material sourced from Stephens Island in the 1950s. The original plant the cultivar was grown from eventually grew to 6 metres in height[1] although 2 m is more usual within the first 10 years. It is an excellent plant for covering difficult banks and places with poor soil and has clusters of bright yellow flowers.[7] The naming of this cultivar commemorates the high population of tuatara on Stevens Island, likening it to an 'isle of dragons'.
- The cultivar Early Gold is an earlier selection made by the late John Goldie and is again sourced from seedlings raised from Stephens Island. It is similar to Dragons gold but has paler, lemony yellow-coloured flowers.[1] This cultivar was under Plant Variety Rights for some time, but these have now expired.
S. molloyi makes a great container plant due to its smaller size, because it retains its leaves year-round (unlike most sophora species that lose their leaves annually) and because it flowers over winter when few other plants are flowering.
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Hughes, Denis. "Sophora Sophora — The Kowhais of New Zealand". Combined Proceedings International Plant Propagators’ Society 52: 204. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
- ↑ Church, Glyn. "A blooming Kiwi beauty". stuff.co.nz.
- ↑ "Sophora molloyi (Cook Strait Kowhai)". Taranaki Educational Resource: Research, Analysis and Information Network. Taranaki Educational Resource: Research, Analysis and Information Network. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
- ↑ "Sophora". Oratia Native Plant Nursery Limited, 2007.
- ↑ "Sophora molloyi". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
- ↑ "Sophora molloyi 'Early Gold'". Trees & Shrubs. Pan-global Plants.
- ↑ "Sophora molloyi 'Dragons Gold'". Vibrant Earth. Vibrant Earth Nursary. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
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