Kowhai

Sophoa…. underconstruction

Kowhai are prolific all through the Tangihua ranges, from along the creek beds to the top of bony ridges.

The ranges glow gold in October making it wonderful place to visit. Tuis and other birds are drawn to them and their sqaubling is raucus.

Originally  three species of Kowhai were recognised. In 2001 this was increased to eight all with different growth habits, leaves, flowers and flowering times, as well as different habitats

All are endemic to New Zealand.

There are three in Northland

• Sophora chathamica, –    Northland
• Sophora fulvida, –             Northland
• Sophora microphylla –     All over New Zealand but not so common in Northland
• Sophora godleyi, –            South west North island
• Sophora longicarinata –  Nelson, Marlborough
• Sophora prostrata, –        South Island
• Sophora molloyi  –           Around Cook Straight
• Sophora tetraptera. –      Central east of the  North Island

Kōwhai is found ….

One or other of these species can be found in most parts of New Zealand, ranging from the coast to mountain areas. Their habitats range from river banks to open hillsides

Kowhai are found through out Northland. There are kowhai through out the Tangihua ranges in a wide variety of habitats.

Kowhai are poisonous

All parts of the Kowhai  plant but especially the ripe yellow seed are poisonous.
Because the seed are hard they will take a lot of chewing to cause harm, and also will need to be consumed in large quantities to effectively poison a human.  The major toxin is Cytisine and symptoms of poisoning include nausea, vomiting, increased heart rate, twitching of muscles or loss of coordination. Onset of these symptoms may occur within one hour. In extreme cases symptoms include paralysis and respiratory failure.

more information  www.nzgeo.com/stories/kowhai/

Kowhai Description

We will compare northland kowhai below but generally

Shape

Two of them are small and bushy (neither found in Northland) and the rest trees growing up to 25m. They tend to look spindly with small leaflets and twisted and tangled branches which hang down.

Flowers

Kowhai have brilliant yellow flowers in late spring,

Seeds

They have seed pods.

Forest Role

Kowhai are legumes – they fix nitrogen building up organic matter for other plants.

kōwhai are source of food for Tui, bellbirds and New Zealand wood pigeon/kererū who feed on the leaves and flowers.
kōwha also provides seasonal nectar  for native birds such as the tui, bellbird, kākā and New Zealand pigeon/kererū.

The Kowahi in the ranges flower later than most and attract large numbers of birds. In the valley past the confidence course the noise from these squabbling birds ( mainly tui) can be described as raucous.

Maori

Traditionally the  Māori  used the flexible branches as a construction material in their houses and to  snare  birds. The kōwhai flowers were a source of yellow dye.

Māori also used the kōwhai tree as medicine. The bark was heated in a  calabash  with hot stones, and made into a poultice to treat wounds or rubbed on a sore back  or made into an infusion to treat bruising or muscular pains. If someone was bitten by a seal, an infusion (wai kōwhai) was prepared from kōwhai and applied to the wounds and the patient was said to recover within days.

Comparing Northland Kowhai species

How to decide between species. this is not easy as hence why only three Species New Zealand wide were originally recognized

Sophora microphylla can be confused with S. fulvida.

They both tend to have fewer leaflets on each leaf. The leaflets which are often larger, broader, crowded and sometimes overlapping or widely spaced.