BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Sophora secundiflora | Mescalbean Sophora 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Mescalbean sophora varies in size from a small shrub 3.3 feet (1 m) tall
to a slender tree up to about 33 feet (10 m) tall [19,28].  This
evergreen has upright branches, velvety twigs, and 4- to 6-inch-long
(10-15 cm) pinnately compound leaves containing 5 to 13 leaflets [28].
Violet-colored flowers occur in showy, 2- to 4.75-inch-long (5-12 cm)
terminal racemes [28].  The fruit is an oblong, brown, pubescent, 1- to
5-inch-long (2.5-12.5 cm), hard and woody, indehiscent pod that is
somewhat constricted between the seeds [28].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Undisturbed State:  Phanerophyte (microphanerophyte)
   Burned or Clipped State:  Hemicryptophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Regeneration of mescalbean sophora is primarily sexual.  Plants produce
abundant seed; each seed pod contains one to eight seeds.  The
bright-orange to scarlet-red seeds are 0.5 inch (1.25 cm) long, globose
to oblong, and hard and bony [7,28].  Fresh seeds reportedly germinate
readily, requiring no scarification [21].  However, seeds have a hard
seed coat, and older seeds must have this protective covering scarified
before germination can occur.  Under laboratory conditions, soaking
seeds for 15 minutes in concentrated sulfuric acid resulted in 72
percent germination [7].  Seeds germinate over a wide range of
temperatures.  The highest germination was at constant temperatures of
68, 77, and 86 degrees F (20, 25, 30 C) and at alternating temperatures
of 59 and 77 degrees F (15-25 C) and 68 and 86 degrees F (20-30 C) [7].
In the field, seedlings and freshly germinated seed were observed in
late October after heavy rainfall [7].

Most plants sprout after damage to the aboveground portion of the plant,
such as by fire [1].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Mescalbean sophora occurs in most mountain systems of western Texas and
southern New Mexico [19].  Here it is usually found in limestone soils
and occurs as scattered plants in canyons, on slopes, and along cliffs
[3,19].  In the Del Norte Mountains of western Texas, mescalbean sophora
is found on canyon slopes with paper shell pinyon (Pinyon remota),
smooth sotol (Dasylirion leiophyllum), evergreen sumac (Rhus virens),
mexican buckeye (Ungnadia speciosa), brickellias (Brickellia spp.), and
agarito (Mahonia trifoliolata) [3].  In the Del Norte Mountains, it is
also found in riparian deciduous woodlands with little walnut (Juglans
microcarpa), desert willow (Chilopsis linearis), western honey mesquite
(Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana), and splitleaf brickellia
(Brickellia laciniata) [3].

Mescalbean sophora occurs as scattered individuals in brushy vegetation
across the Edwards Plateau and Rio Grande Plains of Texas [19].  In
these regions it is also common in riparian deciduous forests dominated
by Texas persimmon (Diospyros texana), American sycamore (Platanus
occidentalis), netleaf hackberry (Celtis reticulata), live oak (Quercus
virginiana), cedar elm (Ulmus crassifolia), pecan (Carya illinoensis),
and Mexican ash (Fraxinus berlandieriana) [25,29].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Mescalbean sophora is considered a "secondary invader" of rangelands
following brush control and burning [7].  



SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Plants generally flower in March and April [21,28].  The pods mature in
September [28].

Related categories for Species: Sophora secundiflora | Mescalbean Sophora