Virginia Tech Dendrology

mamani Fabaceae Sophora chrysophylla (Salisb.) Seem. symbol: SOCH
Leaf: Alternate, evergreen, pinnately compound, 4 to 6 inches long, 5 to 11 oval to elliptical leathery leaflets (each 1/2 to 2 inches long), gray-green above and pale pubescent below.
Flower: Very showy yellow flowers (1 inch across) in axillary or terminal elongated (2 to 5 inch) clusters; appearing when conditions are favorable.
Fruit: Legume, green to gray-brown, woody with a ridged surface, constricted between seeds, 2 to 4 inches long, containing 1 to 5 bright orange seeds, persistent.
Twig: Moderately stout, yellow-green and ridged.
Bark: Initially smooth and orange-brown, becoming gray and rough.
Form: Ranges in size from a shrub to a small tree up to 50 feet tall.

Additional Range Information: Sophora chrysophylla is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material © 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information