Sophora (Vexibia)

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Sophora (lat. Sophora) - a genus of herbaceous plants, shrubs and small trees of the legume family. The genus includes 62 species native to South Asia, Southeast Europe, South America and Australia. Some members of the genus are endangered species. In Russia, there are three types - thick-fruited sophora, yellowish sophora, foxtail sophora, less often Japanese sophora. The first three species are considered malicious weeds that fill the vacant spaces with incredible speed, displacing cultivated plants. Sophora Japanese is distinguished by increased decorative properties, in addition, it is valued for its medicinal properties.

Characteristics of culture

Sophora is a herbaceous plant, deciduous shrub or tree up to 25 m high with a lush spreading crown. Sophora foliage is deep green in color, falls in mid-November. The flowers are small, yellowish-white, bluish-purple or pink, collected in long paniculate or racemose inflorescences. Flowers are formed once every two years, the sophora blooms in July-August. In the winter season, the plants look very attractive, even despite the absence of foliage. The fruits are juicy and fleshy, collected in fruit bundles. All parts of plants are poisonous, but with proper harvesting, storage and use, they will not bring any harm to health.

* Sophora fox-tailed (Latin Sophora alopecuroides) - the species is represented by perennial plants, pubescent over the entire surface with soft pressed hairs. The stem is erect, up to 12-20 cm high. The leaves are ovoid. The flowers are white, collected in dense brushes, up to 15 cm long. Used in folk medicine, valued for the content of alkaloids in the aerial part of plants. Not only leaves and stems have healing properties, but also roots and seeds.

* Sophora yellowish (Latin Sophora flavescens) - the species is represented by perennial herbaceous plants with an erect stem up to 60 cm high. The leaves are oval, green on the outside, glaucous, hairy on the inside. The flowers are pale yellow, collected in dense racemose inflorescences. Plants are rich in alkaloids, organic acids, flavonoids and organic acids. Possesses a number of medicinal properties.

* Sophora thick-fruited (Latin Sophora pachycarpa) - the species is represented by perennial herbaceous plants with a powerful root system up to 60 cm high. The stems are highly branched. The flowers are cream, collected in spike-shaped apical inflorescences. Sophora thick-fruited contains a large amount of useful substances, and is used to treat various diseases, in action it is similar to the two previous types.

* Sophora Japanese (lat. Sophora japonicum) - the species is represented by trees that bloom only 25-30 years after planting. The height of the trees varies from 10 to 25 m. Differs in increased drought-resistant properties. The trunk is covered with fissured dark gray bark. Young branches are greenish-gray, covered with short hairs. Flowers are collected in long paniculate inflorescences. This type is used in gardening and folk medicine. In Russia, Japanese Sophora blooms in July, the fruits ripen in October.

The subtleties of growing

Sophora prefers light, fertile, well-drained, moderately moist soils. The location is sunny or semi-shaded. Sowing is carried out in spring - April - May (depending on the climatic zone). In the European part of Russia, sowing is carried out in February-March. Before sowing, the seeds are scarified: they are scalded with boiling water, and then immersed in warm water for 24 hours. Swollen seeds are sown in open ground, into which compost and wood ash are preliminarily introduced. Embedding depth - 1-2 cm.

Seeds germinate at a temperature of 20-25C. Crops are regularly moistened and free from weeds. Watering is carried out using warm settled water. Seedlings are periodically treated with phytostimulants, for example, Epin or Novosil. Top dressing is not prohibited. Plants are transplanted to a new place next spring. The distance between plants in a row should be about 40-50 cm, between rows - 60-70 cm. Further care consists in systematic watering, top dressing, weeding and sanitary pruning (this applies to shrub forms and trees).