Shrubs or small trees, 1–3(–6) m, tomentulose to deeply sericeous. Leaves: rachis 10–25 cm; leaflets 11–21, blades obovate, oblong, elliptic, or suborbiculate, 2–4(–5) cm, surfaces villous to sericeous abaxially, densely vil­lous, sericeous, or glabrescent adaxially. Inflorescences 35–75-flowered, crowded, 12–32 cm; bracteoles 0. Pedicels 4–10 mm. Flowers spreading, (17–)20–25 mm; calyx broadly campanulate, 5–8[–10] mm; corolla creamy white to yellow; ovary pubescent. Legumes black, nar­rowly oblong-moniliform, 5–15(–20) × 0.5–1 cm, leath­ery. Seeds 1–15, light brown, 4–8 mm. 2n = 18.

Distribution

sc, se United States, Mexico, West Indies, Central America, n South America, se Asia, Africa, Pacific Islands, Australia.

Discussion

Subspecies ca. 7 (2 in the flora).

Sophora tomentosa is polymorphic and has a world­wide distribution along tropical and subtropical sea­shores. The seeds are considered toxic and have diuretic, sudorific, and purgative properties; they are also used for other medicinal purposes (R. A. Vines 1960).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Sophora tomentosa subsp. bahamensis, Sophora tomentosa subsp. occidentalis

Key

1	Leaflet blades mostly obovate or oblong; flowers (17–)20–23 mm.	Sophora tomentosa subsp. bahamensis
1	Leaflet blades broadly elliptic or suborbiculate; flowers 23–25 mm.	Sophora tomentosa subsp. occidentalis