Sophora tetraptera, commonly known as large-leaved kà Âwhai, is a tree that grows naturally in the central east of the North Island of New Zealand. It has larger, more widely spaced, leaflets than the other seven species of kà Âwhai.
The generic name Sophora is from the Arabic sophora (any tree with pea-flowers). The specific epithet tetraptera derives from Greek and means 'four-winged' (referring to the fruits).
It grows as a tree up to 15 metres tall. Its leaves are 100âÂÂ220 mm long, with leaflets 15âÂÂ40 mm long. The leaflets are larger and more widely-spaced than on other kà Âwhai. Its yellow flowers appear from October (or as early as September) to December.
Sophora tetraptera is one of three known native species that hosts the native longhorn beetle Coptomma variegatum.
It occurs naturally in the east of the North Island of New Zealand, from East Cape south to the Wairarapa, and west toward Taihape, Lake Taupà  and down the Waikato River to about Lake Karapiro. It commonly grows in forest and scrub in coastal areas, and lowland areas beside rivers and lakes. It can also grow in the ranges along rivers.