SOPHORA

(Lat), n. f. So2f'or-a3. Fr., s. Oe.r.,Schnurstrauch. A genus of leguminous plants. The Sophorece, are a tribe or series of the PapilionacecB. [a, 35.] S. heptaphylla. A species indigenous to the Moluccas and East Indies; used like S. to mentos a. [a, 35.] S. japonica. Chinese (or Japanese) pagoda-tree; a purgative species cultivated for its flowers, which contain quercitrin. An extract of the leaves is used to adulterate opium, [a, 35.] S. sericea. A species found in Colorado and Mexico, regarded as one of the loco-plants. Its seeds contain, according to Parsons, a liquid alkaloid, probably identical with sophorine. [a, 35.J S. speciosa. A shrub of Texas and New Mexico. The poisonous seeds contain sophorine. [a. 35.] S. to mentos a. Ger., filziger Schnurstrauch. A species the bitter root and seeds of which were formerly known as radix et semen anticholericce (seu sop/jorce). They are still used in India to arrest choleraic vomiting, in torpidity of the liver, etc. In China all parts of the tree are considered pectoral, diuretic, and tonic, [a, 35.] [s. 501]