Yellow Necklacepod

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Yellow Necklacepod
• Yellow Sophora
• seacoast laburnum
• silverbush

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae and is specifically identified by the genus Sophora. As a member of this lineage, Sophora tomentoza follows the established botanical hierarchy of flowering plants.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution localized within the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing in the country of Ghana. Additionally, its natural habitat extends into the territories of Guinea and Ivory Coast. The species is also documented to exist within the borders of Liberia. Finally, its presence is confirmed in the nation of Nigeria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Sophora tomentoza is characterized by its specific adaptation to coastal environments, where it is typically found growing within halophytic vegetation. This plant occupies a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1000 m AMSL. Its presence in salt-tolerant plant communities indicates a high degree of physiological resilience to saline conditions and coastal stressors found at lower elevations.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

halophytic vegetation

Life history

The life history of Sophora tomentoza is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. Throughout its lifespan, the plant maintains an evergreen habit, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and present year-round rather than shedding seasonally. This combination of a long-lived lifecycle and continuous leaf retention contributes to its enduring presence within its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Sophora tomentoza is characterized by its woody growth form, manifesting primarily as a shrub. As a terrestrial plant, it grows independently without the need for a host, functioning as a non-parasitic, independent organism. The plant exhibits a self-supporting structural habit, meaning it does not rely on climbing mechanisms such as vines or lianas to maintain its posture. In terms of stature, it reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 5 meters, with an average plant height of approximately 5 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

5 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Sophora tomeentoza is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits distinct morphological dimensions in its foliage, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 10 cm to a maximum of 30 cm, and leaf widths spanning from 1 cm to 9 cm. Unlike many desert-adapted species, it does not exhibit succulence, maintaining standard leaf tissue water storage capacities. Furthermore, the plant plays a vital role in nutrient cycling through its ability to function as a nitrogen fixer, facilitating the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into a bioavailable form.

Leaf length max:

30 cm

Leaf length min:

10 cm

Leaf width max:

9 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Sophora tomentoza is characterized by its distinctive flowering and fruiting structures. The plant produces yellow flowers that typically range in length from 0.5 cm to 0.7 cm. Following pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a pod, which can reach a maximum length of 19 cm, though it may be as short as 7 cm. These pods are dehiscent, meaning they split open to release their contents. Each fruit contains a relatively small number of seeds, specifically ranging from 1 to 10 seeds per fruit. The seeds themselves are characterized by a length between 7.5 mm and 8.5 mm, with a mean mass of approximately 0.11022 g and a range spanning from 0.07143 g to a maximum of 0.14901 g. The dispersal of these seeds follows a hydrochorous syndrome, indicating that they are primarily dispersed by water.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flower colour :

yellow

Flower length max:

0.7 cm

Flower length min:

0.5 cm

Fruit length max:

19 cm

Fruit length min:

7 cm

Fruit type :

pod

Seed length max:

8.5 mm

Seed length min:

7.5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.14901 g

Seed mass mean:

0.11022 g

Seed mass min:

0.07143 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

1-10

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Sophora tomentosa has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Neuroprotective.

Antioxidant

1. Nutrients

Neuroprotective

1. Nutrients

Conditions

Sophora tomentosa has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2.

Mers-cov

1. Metabolites

Sars-cov-2

1. Metabolites

Preparations

Sophora tomentosa has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Extract.

Extract

1. Nutrients