Sophora  L.

Trees and shrubs. Leaves imparipinnate, petioled; leaflets several to numerous, paired or alternate, estipellate; stipules obolescent or small and caducous. Inflorescence(s) terminal racemes variously interspersed among new foliage, or intercalary; bracts caducous. Calyx broadly campanulate or obconic, about as wide as high, apically sinuate or with 4 lobes, the upper one being of 2 fused members; corolla subpapilionaceous, wing and keel petals similar; androecium of 10 separate or basally connate stamens. Legume essentially sessile, indehiscent, pendent, oblong, turgid, often lumpy with few to several 1-seeded segments, initially fleshy, tomentulose, or felty-strigose, at maturity woody or coriaceous and thinly pubescent or glabrate; sterile segments common in some species, Seeds few to several, large, sometimes red. Mostly temperate and warm regions of Northern Hemisphere, about 45 species.

Plants listed in the manual include:

Sophora tomentosa