Editing Kōwhai (section)

==Taxonomy==
[[Image:Kowhai in full bloom at Papakowhai School.jpg|thumb|Kōwhai tree in full bloom, before foliage has emerged]]

Kōwhai is a name that can be used to describe any of the eight currently known species of ''[[Sophora]]'' that is native to New Zealand, of which the most commonly found species are ''Sophora microphylla'' and ''Sophora tetraptera''.<ref name="MeaningTrees">{{cite q|Q118646408|pp=36-41}}</ref> While all are members of the same genus, they do not form a [[clade]].<ref name="Edwardsia ">{{cite Q|Q100381310}}</ref> ''[[Sophora microphylla]]'', for example, is more closely related to ''[[Sophora toromiro]]'', an endemic species from [[Easter Island|Easter Island / Rapa Nui]], than to ''[[Sophora prostrata]]''.<ref name="Edwardsia "/> ''[[Sophora cassioides]]'', found in [[Chile]], may represent a species that spread to South America from New Zealand.<ref name="Heenan2001"/> ''Sophora'' is one of the four genera of native legumes in New Zealand; the other three are ''[[Carmichaelia]]'', ''[[Clianthus]]'', and ''[[Montigena]]''.<ref name="taxo" />

Taxonomy of the New Zealand ''Sophora'' species is complex issue, due to shared morphological features, hybrids that can form between species, differences in juvenile stages of plants based on geography, and morphological features being insistent with genetic profiles.<ref name="Genetic">{{cite Q|Q52693055|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name="Heenan2001">{{cite Q|Q54488045}}</ref> ''Sophora microphylla'' that grow in the southern and eastern South Island have variable and persistent juvenile forms, something not seen in plants that found in the North Island, potentially due to gene transfer from other kōwhai species.<ref name="Heenan2001"/> Three major species complexes exist in New Zealand that facilitate gene transfer. In the North Island, ''Sophora microphylla'', ''[[Sophora chathamica]]'', ''[[Sophora fulvida]]'', ''[[Sophora godleyi]]'' and ''[[Sophora tetraptera]]'' can form hybrids, while ''Sophora microphylla'', ''Sophora longicarinata '' and ''Sophora prostrata'' can hybridise in the South Island. Additionally, ''[[Sophora tetraptera]]'', ''[[Sophora molloyi]]'' and ''[[Sophora godleyi]]'' can also form hybrids.<ref name="Heenan2001"/><ref name="Genetic"/> As many species thrive in specific environments, hybrid forms may often struggle to persist in the wild,<ref name="Heenan2001"/> though areas with persistent hybrid forms of plants persist.<ref name="Genetic"/> Due to this hybridisation, specific species names can often be difficult to assign to individual plants.<ref name="Genetic"/>

===Species===

The eight currently accepted species of kōwhai are:<ref name=DOC /><ref name="MeaningTrees"/><ref name="Genetic"/>
* ''[[Sophora chathamica]]'', coastal kōwhai
* ''[[Sophora fulvida]]'', Waitākere kōwhai
* ''[[Sophora godleyi]]'', Godley's kōwhai
* ''[[Sophora longicarinata]]'', limestone kōwhai
* ''[[Sophora microphylla]]'', small-leaved kōwhai
* ''[[Sophora molloyi]]'', Cook Strait kōwhai
* ''[[Sophora prostrata]]'', prostrate kōwhai
* ''[[Sophora tetraptera]]'', large-leaved kōwhai<ref>{{ITIS |id=26957 |taxon=''Sophora''}}</ref><ref name="taxo">{{cite web |title=Taxonomy of New Zealand Native Legumes |first=Bevan |last=Weir |date= |url= https://www.rhizobia.co.nz/taxonomy/legume |work=NZ Rhizobia |publisher= |access-date=17 October 2023}}</ref>