Yellow Necklace Pod

(Sophora tomentosa)

Necklace Pod produces many yellow, irregularly shaped flowers on spikes up to 4-13 inches long year-round. The nectar attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. The green pods that follow have multiple pea-like beans resembling a string of beads that contain an alkaloid which is emetic and purgative. This is an important plant for butterflies. It is a host plant Sulphur butterflies. They lay their eggs on the leaves and then the caterpillars eat the leaves. Even though the tree looks decimated, the caterpillars do not kill the plant and the leaves soon sprout again.

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