Sophora stenophylla

Family: Fabaceae (A Utah Flora – Leguminosae) – Pea Family

Perennial herbs from rhizomes; 5.2” to 1.4' (13 to 41 cm) tall

Leaves: alternate; compound; has hairs; 0.07” to 0.2” (1.7 to 5.6 mm) wide

Flowers: 5 petals (a banner, 2 wings and 2 keels); 5 sepals; bisexual; blue purple to blue; 10 stamens; 1 pistil; 0.6” to 1.08” (15 to 27 mm) long

Pollinators: other Sophora species are pollinated by insects

Fruits: legume

Blooms in Arches National Park: April, May

Habitat in Arches National Park: sandy areas in desert shrub and pinyon-juniper communities

Location seen: park road near junction of Delicate Arch road, Winter Camp wash

Other: The genus name, “Sophora”, is from the Arabic “sophira” which is the name of a tree with pea-shaped flowers. The species name, “stenophylla”, means “narrow-leafed” coming from the Greek stenos which means “narrow” and “phyllon” which means “leaf”.

This family is ranked second to grasses in importance to people because species can fix nitrogen. However, some species, e.g., locoweeds and milkvetches, are poisonous due to selenium abstracted from the soil.