Taxon: Sophora tomentosa L.

Summary

Genus:

Sophora

Family:

Fabaceae (alt. Leguminosae)

Subfamily:

Faboideae

Tribe:

Sophoreae

Nomen number:

34971

Place of publication:

Sp. pl. 1:373. 1753

Typification:

View in Linnean Typification Project

Verified:

10/28/1988 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

14 (0 active, 0 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Sophora tomentosa L. var. occidentalis (L.) Isely (0 active accession[s])
Sophora tomentosa L. var. tomentosa (0 active accession[s])

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Images (1 total. Click on image for more.)

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & M. T. Strong. Flora of the West Indies (on-line resource).
APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
Aubréville, A. et al., eds. 1960-. Flore du Cambodge du Laos et du Viet-Nam.
Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques & South African National Biodiversity Institute. African flowering plants database (on-line resource).
Dassanayake, M. D. & F. R. Fosberg, eds. 1980-. A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon.
Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana.
Hammel, B. E. et al., eds. 2003-. Manual de plantas de Costa Rica
Heenan, P. B. et al. 2004. The relationship of Sophora sect. Edwardsia (Fabaceae) to Sophora tomentosa, the type species of the genus Sophora, observed from DNA sequence data and morphological characters. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 146:439-446.
Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
Huang, S. F. & T. C. Huang. 1987. Taxonomic treatment of the Papilionoideae (Leguminosae) of Taiwan. Taiwania 32:11-117.
Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS). Australian plant common name database (on-line resource).
International Legume Database & Information Service. International Legume Database and Information Service (on-line resource).
Isely, D. 1981. Leguminosae of the United States. III. Subfamily Papilionoideae: tribes Sophoreae, Podalyrieae, and Loteae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 25(3):45.
Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
Kumar, S & P. V. Sane. 2003. Legumes of South Asia: a checklist.
Lampe, K. F. & M. A. McCann. 1985. AMA handbook of poisonous and injurious plants
Li, H. L. et al., eds. 1975-1979. Flora of Taiwan.
Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
Lock, J. M. & C. S. Ford. 2004. Legumes of Malesia: a checklist
Lock, J. M. & J. Heald. 1994. Legumes of Indochina: a checklist
Lock, J. M. 1989. Legumes of Africa: a checklist
Padua, L. S. de et al., eds. 1999. Medicinal and poisonous plants 1. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 12(1):460.
Rudd, V. E. 1968. Leguminosae of Mexico - Faboideae I. Sophoreae and Podalyrieae. Rhodora 70:526.
The Missouri Botanical Garden with others. A Catalogue of the vascular plants of Madagascar (on-line resource).
Tsoong, P.-C. & C.-Y. Ma. 1981. A study of the genus Sophora Linn. (Cont.). Acta Phytotax. Sin. 19:153.
Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
Verdcourt, B. 1979. A manual of New Guinea legumes.
Walker, E. 1976. Flora of Okinawa and the southern Ryukyu Islands.
Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).

Common names

Language	Name	seq	Citation
English	seacoast laburnum	1	Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS). Australian plant common name database (on-line resource).
English	silverbush	1	Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
Japanese Rōmaji	iso-fuji	2	Walker, E. 1976. Flora of Okinawa and the southern Ryukyu Islands.
Transcribed Chinese	rong mao huai	2	Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Africa	East Tropical Africa	Tanzania			Lock, J. M. 1989. Legumes of Africa: a checklist
1	Native	Africa	South Tropical Africa	Mozambique			Lock, J. M. 1989. Legumes of Africa: a checklist
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Côte D'Ivoire			Lock, J. M. 1989. Legumes of Africa: a checklist
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Ghana			Lock, J. M. 1989. Legumes of Africa: a checklist
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Liberia			Lock, J. M. 1989. Legumes of Africa: a checklist
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Nigeria			Lock, J. M. 1989. Legumes of Africa: a checklist
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Senegal			Lock, J. M. 1989. Legumes of Africa: a checklist
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Sierra Leone			Lock, J. M. 1989. Legumes of Africa: a checklist
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Togo			Lock, J. M. 1989. Legumes of Africa: a checklist
1	Native	Africa	Western Indian Ocean	Madagascar			The Missouri Botanical Garden with others. A Catalogue of the vascular plants of Madagascar (on-line resource).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Guangdong Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Hainan Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Eastern Asia	Taiwan			Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India			Kumar, S & P. V. Sane. 2003. Legumes of South Asia: a checklist.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	Pakistan			Kumar, S & P. V. Sane. 2003. Legumes of South Asia: a checklist.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	Sri Lanka			Kumar, S & P. V. Sane. 2003. Legumes of South Asia: a checklist.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Cambodia			Lock, J. M. & J. Heald. 1994. Legumes of Indochina: a checklist
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Myanmar			Kumar, S & P. V. Sane. 2003. Legumes of South Asia: a checklist.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Thailand			Lock, J. M. & J. Heald. 1994. Legumes of Indochina: a checklist
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Vietnam			Lock, J. M. & J. Heald. 1994. Legumes of Indochina: a checklist
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Malesia	Indonesia	Jawa		Lock, J. M. & C. S. Ford. 2004. Legumes of Malesia: a checklist
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Malesia	Indonesia	Maluku		Lock, J. M. & C. S. Ford. 2004. Legumes of Malesia: a checklist
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Malesia	Indonesia	Sulawesi		Lock, J. M. & C. S. Ford. 2004. Legumes of Malesia: a checklist
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Malesia	Indonesia	Sumatera		Lock, J. M. & C. S. Ford. 2004. Legumes of Malesia: a checklist
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Malesia	Malaysia			Lock, J. M. & C. S. Ford. 2004. Legumes of Malesia: a checklist
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Malesia	Malaysia	Sabah		Lock, J. M. & C. S. Ford. 2004. Legumes of Malesia: a checklist
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Malesia	Malaysia	Sarawak		Lock, J. M. & C. S. Ford. 2004. Legumes of Malesia: a checklist
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Malesia	Philippines			Lock, J. M. & C. S. Ford. 2004. Legumes of Malesia: a checklist
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Papuasia	Indonesia	Papua		Lock, J. M. & C. S. Ford. 2004. Legumes of Malesia: a checklist
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Papuasia	Papua New Guinea			Lock, J. M. & C. S. Ford. 2004. Legumes of Malesia: a checklist
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Papuasia	Solomon Islands			International Legume Database & Information Service. International Legume Database and Information Service (on-line resource).
1	Native	Australasia	Australia	Australia	Northern Territory		Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
1	Native	Australasia	Australia	Australia	Queensland		Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Baja		Rudd, V. E. 1968. Leguminosae of Mexico - Faboideae I. Sophoreae and Podalyrieae. Rhodora 70:526.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Tamaulipas		Rudd, V. E. 1968. Leguminosae of Mexico - Faboideae I. Sophoreae and Podalyrieae. Rhodora 70:526.
1	Native	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	Texas		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Florida		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Campeche		Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Quintana Roo		Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Yucatán		Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana.
1	Native	Pacific	Northwestern Pacific	Marshall Islands			International Legume Database & Information Service. International Legume Database and Information Service (on-line resource).
1	Native	Pacific	Northwestern Pacific	United States	Northern Mariana Islands		International Legume Database & Information Service. International Legume Database and Information Service (on-line resource).
1	Native	Pacific	Southwestern Pacific	Kiribati	Gilbert Islands		International Legume Database & Information Service. International Legume Database and Information Service (on-line resource).
1	Native	Southern America	Brazil	Brazil			Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Anguilla			Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & M. T. Strong. Flora of the West Indies (on-line resource).
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Antigua and Barbuda			Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & M. T. Strong. Flora of the West Indies (on-line resource).
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Bahamas			Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & M. T. Strong. Flora of the West Indies (on-line resource).
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Barbados			Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & M. T. Strong. Flora of the West Indies (on-line resource).
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Cayman Islands			Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & M. T. Strong. Flora of the West Indies (on-line resource).
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Cuba			Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & M. T. Strong. Flora of the West Indies (on-line resource).
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Dominica			Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & M. T. Strong. Flora of the West Indies (on-line resource).
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Grenada			Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & M. T. Strong. Flora of the West Indies (on-line resource).
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Hispaniola			Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & M. T. Strong. Flora of the West Indies (on-line resource).
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Jamaica			Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & M. T. Strong. Flora of the West Indies (on-line resource).
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Martinique			Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & M. T. Strong. Flora of the West Indies (on-line resource).
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	St. Lucia			Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & M. T. Strong. Flora of the West Indies (on-line resource).
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	St. Vincent and Grenadines			Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & M. T. Strong. Flora of the West Indies (on-line resource).
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	United States	Puerto Rico		Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & M. T. Strong. Flora of the West Indies (on-line resource).
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	United States	Virgin Islands, U.S.		Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & M. T. Strong. Flora of the West Indies (on-line resource).
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Virgin Islands (British)			Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & M. T. Strong. Flora of the West Indies (on-line resource).
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Belize			Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana.
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Costa Rica			Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana.
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Honduras			Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana.
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Nicaragua			Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana.
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Panama			Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana.
1	Native	Southern America	Northern South America	Venezuela			Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana.
1	Native	Southern America	Southern South America	Chile			Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana.
1	Native	Southern America	Western South America	Colombia			Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana.
2	Cultivated					also cult.	Kumar, S & P. V. Sane. 2003. Legumes of South Asia: a checklist.
6	Other					exact native range obscure

Native
Africa

EAST TROPICAL AFRICA: Tanzania
WEST TROPICAL AFRICA: Côte D'Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo
SOUTH TROPICAL AFRICA: Mozambique
WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN: Madagascar

Asia-Temperate

CHINA: China [Guangdong Sheng, Hainan Sheng]
EASTERN ASIA: Taiwan

Asia-Tropical

INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan
PAPUASIA: Indonesia [Papua], Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands
INDO-CHINA: Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam
MALESIA: Indonesia [Jawa, Maluku, Sulawesi, Sumatera], Malaysia [Sabah, Sarawak], Philippines

Australasia

AUSTRALIA: Australia [Queensland, Northern Territory]

Northern America

SOUTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Florida]
SOUTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [Texas]
NORTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Baja, Tamaulipas]
SOUTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Campeche, Quintana Roo, Yucatán]

Pacific

NORTHWESTERN PACIFIC: Marshall Islands, United States [Northern Mariana Islands]
SOUTHWESTERN PACIFIC: Kiribati [Gilbert Islands]

Southern America

CARIBBEAN: Hispaniola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Martinique, United States [Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, U.S.], St. Vincent and Grenadines, Virgin Islands (British)
CENTRAL AMERICA: Belize, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama
NORTHERN SOUTH AMERICA: Venezuela
BRAZIL: Brazil
WESTERN SOUTH AMERICA: Colombia
SOUTHERN SOUTH AMERICA: Chile

Cultivated (also cult.)
Other (exact native range obscure)

Reference(s)

Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & M. T. Strong. Flora of the West Indies (on-line resource).
Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana.
Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
International Legume Database & Information Service. International Legume Database and Information Service (on-line resource).
Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
Kumar, S & P. V. Sane. 2003. Legumes of South Asia: a checklist.
Lock, J. M. & C. S. Ford. 2004. Legumes of Malesia: a checklist
Lock, J. M. & J. Heald. 1994. Legumes of Indochina: a checklist
Lock, J. M. 1989. Legumes of Africa: a checklist
Rudd, V. E. 1968. Leguminosae of Mexico - Faboideae I. Sophoreae and Podalyrieae. Rhodora 70:526.
The Missouri Botanical Garden with others. A Catalogue of the vascular plants of Madagascar (on-line resource).
Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Note	Reference
Environmental	ornamental		Padua, L. S. de et al., eds. 1999. Medicinal and poisonous plants 1. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 12(1):460.
Environmental	revegetator	as pioneer colonist	Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques & South African National Biodiversity Institute. African flowering plants database (on-line resource).
Medicines	folklore		Padua, L. S. de et al., eds. 1999. Medicinal and poisonous plants 1. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 12(1):460.
Vertebrate poisons	fish		Lock, J. M. 1989. Legumes of Africa: a checklist
Vertebrate poisons	mammals		Lampe, K. F. & M. A. McCann. 1985. AMA handbook of poisonous and injurious plants

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=34971. Accessed 17 April 2026.