About Sophora prostrata Buchanan
Sophora prostrata Buchanan, commonly called kōwhai, prostrate kōwhai, or dwarf kōwhai, is a plant endemic to the eastern South Island of New Zealand, ranging from Marlborough to the Waitaki Valley. It is most frequently found on Banks Peninsula. This is a low-growing shrub that reaches roughly 2 metres in height. Unlike other New Zealand Sophora species, which outgrow their divaricating growth habit when they mature into adult trees, S. prostrata retains a divaricating habit throughout its entire lifespan. The leaves of this species are typically quite small, growing to a maximum length of around 2 centimetres. Its flowers are most often orange, though they can also be yellow, which matches the flower color of most other kōwhai species. The seeds of Sophora prostrata are black, very dark brown, and may sometimes appear dark red. This coloration differs from the seeds of other native New Zealand Sophora species, which are yellow.
