Description: Shrubs or trees.
Leaves alternate, imparipinnate; stipules small.
Inflorescenses racemes, simple and terminal or forming terminal panicles; bracts small, caducous. Calyx tubular, teeth small. Standard broad, erect; wings oblong, erect; keel similar to wings, scarcely fused. Stamens free or diadelphous and sheath fused less than halfway. Ovary shortly stipitate; style incurved; stigma terminal.
Fruit moniliform, terete or ± compressed, ± woody, often indehiscent; seeds apparently without aril.
Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 50 species, tropical to temperate regions. Australia: c. 3 species (1 species endemic), Qld, N.S.W., N.T.
Text by G. J. Harden
Taxon concept:
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Leaves usually with 21–35 leaflets; leaflets 5–25 mm long | Sophora fraseri |
| Leaves usually with 11–17 leaflets; leaflets 17–40 mm long | 2 |
| 2 | Leaves 5–10 cm long; leaflets elliptic, 17–25 mm long, 6–10 mm wide, glabrous to sparsely pubescent, bright green; lateral petiolules 0.1–1.5 mm long. | Sophora howinsula |
| Leaves 10–20 cm long; leaflets ovate to ± circular, 20–40 mm long, 10–30 mm wide, greyish to white tomentose; lateral petiolules 2–4 mm long.
Back to 1 | Sophora tomentosa |
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