Silverbush (Sophora tomentosa, Sp. Pl.: 373 (1753))

Family: Fabaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 373 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Sophora

Vegetable: False

Observations: Tropics & Subtropics

Description

Silverbush, botanically known as Sophora tomentosa, is a distinguished member of the Fabaceae family. This plant boasts a storied entry in botanical records, with its first formal description dating back to 1753 in Sp. Pl.: 373, courtesy of the esteemed botanist Carl Linnaeus.

Sophora tomentosa thrives predominantly in tropical and subtropical regions, where its adaptability to warm climates has allowed it to flourish. The plant is typically characterized by its silvery, softly-hairy leaves, which give it the common moniker of Silverbush. These leaves not only lend an aesthetic appeal with their unique hue but also provide a velvety texture that adds to the plant’s ornamental value.

Apart from its visual allure, Silverbush is known for its striking yellow flowers. These blossoms are not only attractive but also serve an important ecological role, attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies, which contribute to the plant’s propagation and the health of its surrounding ecosystem.

In its native and introduced habitats, Silverbush often grows as a shrub or small tree. Its resilience and ability to thrive in sandy and saline soils make it a popular choice for coastal landscaping, where it can help in stabilizing dunes and preventing erosion.

Overall, Silverbush stands out not only for its beauty but also for its ecological benefits, making it a valued plant in both natural and cultivated environments. Its historical documentation and enduring presence in warm regions around the world are testaments to its significance in the botanical realm.

Common Names

Msa: pelotok
Eng: yellow necklacepod, seacoast laburnum, silverbush, yellow sophora, coast sophora
Por: soja-da-praia
Zho: rong mao huai
En: Silverbush, Seacoast laburnum, Yellow necklacepod, Yellow sophora, Coast sophora, Bead tree
Ar: صفيراء لبدية
Zh: Rong mao huai, 毛苦參, 绒毛槐
Fr: Bois Chapelet
Ja: Iso-fuji
Ms: Pelotok
Pt: Soja-da-praia
Su: Bungbulan
Zh-tw: 毛苦參
Th: สารพัดพิษ
To: Lata
Zh-hant: 絨毛槐

Synonyms

Distribution

• Aldabra (native)
• Andaman Is. (native)
• Aruba (native)
• Bahamas (native)
• Bangladesh (native)
• Belize (native)
• Bermuda (native)
• Bismarck Archipelago (native)
• Brazil North (native)
• Brazil Northeast (native)
• Brazil South (native)
• Brazil Southeast (native)
• Cambodia (native)
• Caroline Is. (native)
• Cayman Is. (native)
• Central African Repu (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• Colombia (native)
• Comoros (native)
• Cook Is. (native)
• Costa Rica (native)
• Cuba (native)
• Dominican Republic (native)
• Fiji (native)
• Florida (native)
• Ghana (native)
• Gilbert Is. (native)
• Guinea (native)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (native)
• Hainan (native)
• Haiti (native)
• Honduras (native)
• India (native)
• Ivory Coast (native)
• Jamaica (native)
• Jawa (native)
• Kenya (native)
• Laccadive Is. (native)
• Leeward Is. (native)
• Liberia (native)
• Madagascar (native)
• Maldives (native)
• Marianas (native)
• Marquesas (native)
• Marshall Is. (native)
• Mexico Gulf (native)
• Mexico Northeast (native)
• Mexico Northwest (native)
• Mexico Southeast (native)
• Mozambique (native)
• Myanmar (native)
• Nansei-shoto (native)
• Netherlands Antilles (native)
• New Caledonia (native)
• New Guinea (native)
• New South Wales (native)
• Nicaragua (native)
• Nicobar Is. (native)
• Nigeria (native)
• Northern Territory (native)
• Ogasawara-shoto (native)
• Panamá (native)
• Puerto Rico (native)
• Queensland (native)
• Samoa (native)
• Senegal (native)
• Seychelles (native)
• Sierra Leone (native)
• Society Is. (native)
• South China Sea (native)
• Sri Lanka (native)
• Taiwan (native)
• Tanzania (native)
• Texas (native)
• Thailand (native)
• Togo (native)
• Tonga (native)
• Trinidad-Tobago (native)
• Tubuai Is. (native)
• Turks-Caicos Is. (native)
• Vanuatu (native)
• Venezuela (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• Wallis-Futuna Is. (native)
• Windward Is. (native)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Japan (introduced)
• Line Is. (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Pakistan (introduced)
• Rodrigues (introduced)

Additional Images

Leaf

Taken Oct 23, 2019 by Jaye Jaye (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 10, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 15, 2022 by Thiago Flores Flores (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 30, 2021 by michelle younkers (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 12, 2022 by Lorenzi Harri (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Endemia – Gildas Gateblé (cc-by-nc)

Taken Apr 22, 2021 by David Rodriguez (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 9, 2019 by Elly Hutchinson (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 12, 2022 by Lorenzi Harri (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 26, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jan 18, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 10, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 18, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 26, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 12, 2022 by Lorenzi Harri (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Endemia – Antoine Olivier (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Endemia – Jean-Louis Ruiz (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Endemia – Jean-Louis Ruiz (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Endemia – Gildas Gateblé (cc-by-nc)

Taken Apr 12, 2022 by Lorenzi Harri (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jan 10, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Aug 18, 2019 by Vanessa Co (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2958970)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:518954-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Sophora tomentosa L.)

Specifications

Growth habit>: Tree, Shrub

Growth