[LOWO]
Legumes of the World. Edited by G. Lewis, B. Schrire, B. MacKinder & M. Lock. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. (2005)
- Note
-
In Polhill’s (1994) treatment the following informal groups were recognised: the Myroxylon group (11 genera; 10 Neotropics, one Africa); Ormosia group (3 genera; Neotropics, Africa, Asia); Angylocalyx group (4 genera; Neotropics, Africa, Australia); Baphia group (6 genera; Africa to Asia); Dussia group (9 genera; Neotropics) and Sophora group (14 genera; Africa, Asia, Neotropics).
The only formal change made to the classification of Sophoreae since Polhill (1994) is the transfer of Bowringia and Baphiastrum to Leucomphalos (Breteler, 1994b). In this account we maintain Bowringia and Baphiastrum, not because we disagree with Breteler (1994b), but in the spirit of this volume, to encourage future workers to verify the monophyly of Leucomphalos sens. lat. with new data. We also do not follow Polhill’s (1994) suggestion that Riedeliella, Etaballia and Inocarpus belong in Sophoreae. It has been generally accepted (e.g., Polhill, 1981b) that these belong in Dalbergieae, which is confirmed by the recent study of Lavin et al. (2001a) that places them in the Dalbergioid clade. They are therefore treated as Dalbergieae in this volume (see page 307).
Cladistic analyses of overall morphology (Chappill, 1995; Herendeen, 1995) and pollen data (Ferguson et al., 1994) showed Sophoreae to be non-monophyletic because Swartzieae genera were mixed in the same monophyletic groups as Sophoreae. These results have been corroborated by molecular studies. Doyle et al. (1996) showed Sophoreae to be heterogeneous for a large inversion in the chloroplast genome. This suggests that Sophoreae is non-monophyletic if it is assumed that the inversion arose only once. Doyle et al.’s (1997) DNA sequencing study of the chloroplast gene rbcL included 18 genera of Sophoreae. Cladistic analysis showed these to be scattered widely across the papilionoid tree. More recently, these results have been corroborated by another chloroplast locus, the trnL intron (Pennington et al., 2001). This study sampled more putatively basal genera of Papilionoideae (26 of 41 Sophoreae; 14 of 15 Swartzieae and all Dalbergieae and Dipterygeae). The trnL tree (summarised in Fig. 29) is also largely congruent with other molecular studies that include some taxa of basal Papilionoideae (e.g., Hu et al., 2000; Ireland et al, 2000; Lavin et al., 2001a; Kajita et al., 2001; Wojciechowski et al., 2004). It clearly shows genera of Sophoreae to be members of disparate papilionoid clades.
Diverse datasets now indicate Sophoreae to be non-monophyletic as Polhill (1981b; 1994) predicted. If the trnL results are corroborated, it seems likely that Sophoreae will be dismembered with its genera scattered across several tribes. This would entail extensive taxonomic changes. Yakovlev (1972b; 1991) split Sophoreae into five and nine tribes respectively. These classifications have not been widely accepted, and although they are not congruent with the most recent molecular topologies, they will need to be considered in any formalisation of new tribal names. In any new scheme, Sophoreae sens. strict. will comprise a group of genistoid clade genera from among Polhill’s (1994) Sophora group (Fig. 29), but published molecular phylogenetic studies have not yet sampled sufficient genera to suggest its delimitation.
A new classification for Sophoreae requires sampling of the genera not included by Pennington et al. (2001; see Fig. 29) and other authors, in future molecular systematic studies. Some of the clades discovered by DNA sequence data (Fig. 29) are cryptic in that they are not marked by obvious macro-morphological features, and it is therefore perilous to attempt to determine the affinities of genera based upon macro-morphology alone. It may be that these clades are defined by anatomical or chemical characters. For example, quinolizidine alkaloid accumulation may be a synapomorphy for the Genistoid clade (Pennington et al., 2001; Kite & Pennington, 2003), and lack of these chemicals in Styphnolobium species supports the segregation of this genus from Sophora sens. strict. The presence of quinolizidine alkaloids in Calia, which is not placed amongst the genistoids, suggests that this genus is a strong candidate as sister group to the Genistoid clade, a relationship that might be resolved by more robust molecular phylogenies. Such phylogenies should incorporate information from nuclear genes (Lavin et al., 1998; Doyle & Doyle, 2000) which would be particularly useful to test hypotheses that are currently based solely upon evidence from chloroplast DNA. Careful integration of morphology, preferably as part of a simultaneous cladistic analysis, is also critical. Such morphological study may be best achieved by focusing on separate monophyletic groups because assessment of homology of morphological features across all Papilionoideae is difficult. The monophyletic groups discovered in the trnL analysis provide a framework for starting these future studies. In all 45 genera and (393) – 396 – (398) species are treated here (including c. 76 basally branching, c. 262 genistoid and c. 58 baphioid species of Sophoreae; Fig. 29).
Some authors maintain a broad circumscription of Sophora; Yakovlev (1967), however, split it into a number of genera and there is a tendency to recognise some of these segregates, e.g., Calia and Styphnolobium have been shown by molecular and morphological data to be distinct genera; sect. Edwardsia (c. 16-18 spp. with various hybrids in New Zealand) is most distinctive biogeographically, comprising the Australasian, Pacific, Mascarenes and S American element of the genus; the centre of the remaining species is China, India and Indo-China. On the basis of DNA sequence data, Sophora sens. strict. belongs with the Genistoid clade (Doyle et al., 1997; Pennington et al., 2001; Kajita et al., 2001; Wojciechowski et al., 2004) - Habit
- Trees, shrubs and herbs
- Ecology
- Seasonally dry tropical to warm temperate lowland and upland forest or dry vegetation types and sand dunes
- Distribution
- SE Europe to W, C & E Asia and south through tropical regions to Australasia and the Pacific; c. 3-4 spp. in sect. Edwardsia in western S America (Chile, Argentina and Juan Fernandez Is.); largely introduced in Africa; 1 sp. endemic from coastal Kenya south to S Africa and Madagascar; S. tomentosa L. widespread in the coastal Palaeotropics and also in coastal E Brazil
[FZ]
Leguminosae, R.K. Brummitt, D.K. Harder, G.P. Lewis, J.M. Lock, R.M. Polhill & B. Verdcourt. Flora Zambesiaca 3:3. 2007
- Morphology General Habit
- Trees or shrubs or rarely perennial herbs.
- Morphology Leaves
- Leaves imparipinnate, with 4–18(32) leaflets per side, glabrous to densely tomentose; stipels absent.
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
- Inflorescences terminal or axillary, consisting of few- to many-flowered racemes; bracts often fairly large; bracteoles small when present but usually apparently absent.
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
- Flowers markedly perigynous, with a distinct hypanthium.
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
- Calyx campanulate to tubular, with very shallow to prominent and acute lobes, the upper 2 often fused.
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
- Petals yellow, white, blue or purple, small to rather large; standard usually gradually narrowed below into a short claw, the limb ± reflexed; keel petals overlapping or joined on the lower side.
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
- Stamens free to shortly joined at the base; anthers dorsifixed.
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
- Ovary shortly stalked.
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
- Pod moniliform, often winged, with 1–14 seeds, dehiscent or tardily breaking up irregularly.
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
- Seeds ovoid, ellipsoid or globose, usually without a distinct radicular lobe and with a small hilum; radicle short, ± straight or incurved.
[FTEA]
Leguminosae, J. B. Gillett, R. M. Polhill & B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1971
- Morphology General Habit
- Trees, shrubs or rarely perennial herbs
- Morphology Leaves
- Leaves imparipinnate, 8–36(–64)-foliolate; stipels setaceous or often absent; leaflets 0.5–5(–9) cm. long
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
- Flowers in terminal or axillary few- to many-flowered racemes; bracts often fairly large; bracteoles small when present, but usually apparently absent; pedicels often swollen or jointed near the top
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Hypanthium
- Hypanthium often well developed
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
- Calyx campanulate to tubular, with very shallow to prominent and acute lobes, the upper 2 often fused
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
- Petals yellow, white, blue or purple, up to 5 cm. long; standard usually narrowed into a short claw, the limb ± reflexed; wings ± obliquely oblong; keel-petals usually overlapping or joined on the lower side
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
- Stamens free or shortly joined at the base; anthers dorsifixed
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
- Ovary shortly stipitate, with several to numerous ovules; style incurved, with a small terminal stigma
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
- Fruit moniliform, often winged, 1–14-seeded, dehiscent or coriaceous to fleshy and indehiscent
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
- Seeds obovoid or globose, usually with a small hilum; radicle straight or incurved.
[LOWO]
Legumes of the World. Edited by G. Lewis, B. Schrire, B. MacKinder & M. Lock. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. (2005)
- Habit
- Shrubs (dwarf)
- Ecology
- Dry continental temperate grassland and desert
- Distribution
- C Asia (Kazakhstan, Tadzhikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan)
- Note
-
Some authors consider this genus to be a section within Sophora (e.g., S. gibbosa (DC.) Yakovlev and S. pachycarpa C.A.Mey. from W Asia and the Middle East), but within its area of distribution it is regarded as a distinct genus
In Polhill’s (1994) treatment the following informal groups were recognised: the Myroxylon group (11 genera; 10 Neotropics, one Africa); Ormosia group (3 genera; Neotropics, Africa, Asia); Angylocalyx group (4 genera; Neotropics, Africa, Australia); Baphia group (6 genera; Africa to Asia); Dussia group (9 genera; Neotropics) and Sophora group (14 genera; Africa, Asia, Neotropics).
The only formal change made to the classification of Sophoreae since Polhill (1994) is the transfer of Bowringia and Baphiastrum to Leucomphalos (Breteler, 1994b). In this account we maintain Bowringia and Baphiastrum, not because we disagree with Breteler (1994b), but in the spirit of this volume, to encourage future workers to verify the monophyly of Leucomphalos sens. lat. with new data. We also do not follow Polhill’s (1994) suggestion that Riedeliella, Etaballia and Inocarpus belong in Sophoreae. It has been generally accepted (e.g., Polhill, 1981b) that these belong in Dalbergieae, which is confirmed by the recent study of Lavin et al. (2001a) that places them in the Dalbergioid clade. They are therefore treated as Dalbergieae in this volume (see page 307).
Cladistic analyses of overall morphology (Chappill, 1995; Herendeen, 1995) and pollen data (Ferguson et al., 1994) showed Sophoreae to be non-monophyletic because Swartzieae genera were mixed in the same monophyletic groups as Sophoreae. These results have been corroborated by molecular studies. Doyle et al. (1996) showed Sophoreae to be heterogeneous for a large inversion in the chloroplast genome. This suggests that Sophoreae is non-monophyletic if it is assumed that the inversion arose only once. Doyle et al.’s (1997) DNA sequencing study of the chloroplast gene rbcL included 18 genera of Sophoreae. Cladistic analysis showed these to be scattered widely across the papilionoid tree. More recently, these results have been corroborated by another chloroplast locus, the trnL intron (Pennington et al., 2001). This study sampled more putatively basal genera of Papilionoideae (26 of 41 Sophoreae; 14 of 15 Swartzieae and all Dalbergieae and Dipterygeae). The trnL tree (summarised in Fig. 29) is also largely congruent with other molecular studies that include some taxa of basal Papilionoideae (e.g., Hu et al., 2000; Ireland et al, 2000; Lavin et al., 2001a; Kajita et al., 2001; Wojciechowski et al., 2004). It clearly shows genera of Sophoreae to be members of disparate papilionoid clades.
Diverse datasets now indicate Sophoreae to be non-monophyletic as Polhill (1981b; 1994) predicted. If the trnL results are corroborated, it seems likely that Sophoreae will be dismembered with its genera scattered across several tribes. This would entail extensive taxonomic changes. Yakovlev (1972b; 1991) split Sophoreae into five and nine tribes respectively. These classifications have not been widely accepted, and although they are not congruent with the most recent molecular topologies, they will need to be considered in any formalisation of new tribal names. In any new scheme, Sophoreae sens. strict. will comprise a group of genistoid clade genera from among Polhill’s (1994) Sophora group (Fig. 29), but published molecular phylogenetic studies have not yet sampled sufficient genera to suggest its delimitation.
A new classification for Sophoreae requires sampling of the genera not included by Pennington et al. (2001; see Fig. 29) and other authors, in future molecular systematic studies. Some of the clades discovered by DNA sequence data (Fig. 29) are cryptic in that they are not marked by obvious macro-morphological features, and it is therefore perilous to attempt to determine the affinities of genera based upon macro-morphology alone. It may be that these clades are defined by anatomical or chemical characters. For example, quinolizidine alkaloid accumulation may be a synapomorphy for the Genistoid clade (Pennington et al., 2001; Kite & Pennington, 2003), and lack of these chemicals in Styphnolobium species supports the segregation of this genus from Sophora sens. strict. The presence of quinolizidine alkaloids in Calia, which is not placed amongst the genistoids, suggests that this genus is a strong candidate as sister group to the Genistoid clade, a relationship that might be resolved by more robust molecular phylogenies. Such phylogenies should incorporate information from nuclear genes (Lavin et al., 1998; Doyle & Doyle, 2000) which would be particularly useful to test hypotheses that are currently based solely upon evidence from chloroplast DNA. Careful integration of morphology, preferably as part of a simultaneous cladistic analysis, is also critical. Such morphological study may be best achieved by focusing on separate monophyletic groups because assessment of homology of morphological features across all Papilionoideae is difficult. The monophyletic groups discovered in the trnL analysis provide a framework for starting these future studies. In all 45 genera and (393) – 396 – (398) species are treated here (including c. 76 basally branching, c. 262 genistoid and c. 58 baphioid species of Sophoreae; Fig. 29).
[LOWO]
- Use
- Cultivated as ornamentals (in sect. Edwardsia, with yellow flowers, e.g., S. tetraptera J.F.Mill. [kowhai ] and S. microphylla Aiton [small-leaved kowhai ]; and in sect. Pseudosophora, with blue to white flowers, e.g., S. davidii (Franch.) Skeels); also used for its durable timber (for bearings, turnery and cabinet work), as medicine (e.g., S. flavescens Aiton [ku shen ], S. tonkinensis Gagnep. [shan dou gen ] and S. microphylla); some species are toxic and used as insecticides
[LOWO]
- Use
- Used for medicine, dyes, forage, ornamentals, preventing erosion and as bee crops for honey
Native to:
Afghanistan, Aldabra, Altay, Amur, Andaman Is., Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Arizona, Aruba, Assam, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Bermuda, Bismarck Archipelago, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Cambodia, Caroline Is., Cayman Is., Central African Repu, Chatham Is., Chile Central, Chile South, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Chita, Colombia, Colorado, Comoros, Cook Is., Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East European Russia, East Himalaya, Fiji, Florida, Ghana, Gilbert Is., Guinea, Gulf of Guinea Is., Hainan, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Inner Mongolia, Iran, Iraq, Irkutsk, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jawa, Juan Fernández Is., Kansas, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Khabarovsk, Kirgizstan, Korea, Krym, KwaZulu-Natal, Laccadive Is., Lebanon-Syria, Leeward Is., Lesser Sunda Is., Liberia, Madagascar, Maldives, Manchuria, Marianas, Marquesas, Marshall Is., Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mongolia, Mozambique, Mozambique Channel I, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Guinea, New Mexico, New South Wales, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, Nicaragua, Nicobar Is., Nigeria, Norfolk Is., North Caucasus, Northern Territory, Ogasawara-shoto, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pakistan, Panamá, Philippines, Primorye, Puerto Rico, Qinghai, Queensland, Romania, Réunion, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Society Is., South China Sea, South Dakota, South European Russi, Sri Lanka, Sumatera, Tadzhikistan, Taiwan, Tanzania, Texas, Thailand, Tibet, Togo, Tonga, Transcaucasus, Trinidad-Tobago, Tristan da Cunha, Tuamotu, Tubuai Is., Turkey, Turkey-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Turks-Caicos Is., Utah, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Wallis-Futuna Is., West Himalaya, Windward Is., Wyoming, Xinjiang, Zimbabwe
Extinct in:
Easter Is.
Introduced into:
Great Britain, Line Is., Mauritius, Peru, Rodrigues, Ukraine, West Siberia
- Sophora albescens (Rehder) C.Y.Ma
- Sophora albopetiolulata Leonard
- Sophora alopecuroides L.
- Sophora bakeri C.B.Clarke ex Prain
- Sophora benthamii Steenis
- Sophora brachygyna C.Y.Ma
- Sophora cassioides (F.Phil.) Sparre
- Sophora chathamica Cockayne
- Sophora chrysophylla (Salisb.) Seem.
- Sophora davidi (Franch.) Skeels
- Sophora denudata Bory
- Sophora dunii Prain
- Sophora exigua Craib
- Sophora fernandeziana (Phil.) Skottsb.
- Sophora flavescens Aiton
- Sophora franchetiana Dunn
- Sophora fraseri Benth.
- Sophora fulvida (Allan) Heenan & de Lange
- Sophora gibbosa (DC.) Yakovlev
- Sophora godleyi Heenan & de Lange
- Sophora howinsula (W.R.B.Oliv.) P.S.Green
- Sophora huamotensis Mattapha, Suddee & Rueangr.
- Sophora inhambanensis Klotzsch
- Sophora interrupta Bedd.
- Sophora jaubertii Spach
- Sophora koreensis Nakai
- Sophora leachiana M.E.Peck
- Sophora lehmannii (Bunge) Yakovlev
- Sophora linearifolia Griseb.
- Sophora longicarinata G.Simpson & J.S.Thomson
- Sophora longipes Merr.
- Sophora macnabiana (Graham) Skottsb.
- Sophora macrocarpa Sm.
- Sophora mangarevaensis H.St.John
- Sophora masafuerana (Phil.) Skottsb.
- Sophora microcarpa C.Y.Ma
- Sophora microphylla Aiton
- Sophora mollis (Royle) Graham ex Baker
- Sophora molloyi Heenan & de Lange
- Sophora moorcroftiana (Benth.) Benth. ex Baker
- Sophora nuttalliana B.L.Turner
- Sophora oblongata P.C.Tsoong
- Sophora pachycarpa Schrenk ex C.A.Mey.
- Sophora praetorulosa P.T.Li
- Sophora prostrata Buchanan
- Sophora raivavaeensis H.St.John
- Sophora rapaensis H.St.John
- Sophora reedeana (Phil.) Yakovlev
- Sophora saxicola Proctor
- Sophora songarica Schrenk
- Sophora stenophylla A.Gray
- Sophora tetraptera J.S.Muell.
- Sophora tomentosa L.
- Sophora tonkinensis Gagnep.
- Sophora toromiro (Phil.) Skottsb.
- Sophora velutina Lindl.
- Sophora violacea Thwaites
- Sophora wightii Baker
- Sophora xanthoantha C.Y.Ma
- Sophora yunnanensis C.Y.Ma
- Sophora zeylanica Trimen
Sophora L. appears in other Kew resources:
First published in Sp. Pl.: 373 (1753)
Accepted by
- Govaerts, R., Nic Lughadha, E., Black, N., Turner, R. & Paton, A. (2021). The World Checklist of Vascular Plants, a continuously updated resource for exploring global plant diversity. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-021-00997-6 Scientific Data 8: 215.
Literature
Flora of West Tropical Africa
- —F.T.A. 2: 253.
Flora Zambesiaca
- Gen. Pl., ed.5: 175 (1754).
- Sp. Pl.: 373 (1753)
Flora of Tropical East Africa
- L., Gen. Pl., ed. 5: 175 (1754)
- Sp. Pl.: 373 (1753)
-
Art and Illustrations in Digifolia
Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew
-
Flora Zambesiaca
Flora Zambesiaca
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
-
Flora of Tropical East Africa
Flora of Tropical East Africa
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
-
Kew Backbone Distributions
The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2022. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
© Copyright 2017 World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
-
Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone
The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2022. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
© Copyright 2017 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
-
Legumes of the World Online
Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0