The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

The fact-sheet for prostrate kowhai (Sophora prostrata) states that it has "dry ridged and knobbly pointed seed pods to 5cm long containing hard yellow seeds. "
I always thought that the seeds (usually 2) were black and that this was simple way of distinguishing it from kowhai (Sophora microphylla) which has yellow seeds. In fact I thought that yellow seeds on a small-leaved plant indicted it was a hybrid of the two. Is the seed colour a reliable enough character to use in this way?

Hi Alice,
I've never thought about it but when I have collected S. prostrata seeds they have been brown with a dull yellow tinge and I've always assumed black seeds have been got at by either a bug or a fungus.
Why not drop in to the Allan Herbarium and see what material they have.

Hi Alice, you are correct. Webb & Simpson's seeds of NZ gymnosperms and dicotyledons gives the seed colour as dark brown to dark henna of S. prostrata. Seed colour may not distinguish S. prostrata from S. molloyii (light brown to yellow), but since their distributions don't overlap it shouldn't be too much of a problem. I'll change the fact sheet

Thanks Mike - I may have to fill that gap in my plant book collection.

Its an awesome book. I just wish they'd also done the monocots

But they are doing the monocots....its the next one Colin Webb is now close to finishing. Mike please don't alter indigenous fact sheets. If you find an error tell me or the nzpcn and we will do it thanks.