2. (noun) kōwhai of various species including Sophora microphylla, Sophora tetraptera and prostrate kōwhai, Sophora prostrata - small-leaved native trees common along riverbanks and forest margins and noted for their hanging clusters of large yellow flowers in early spring.
Ka tino purotu te puāwai o te rākau, arā, o te kōwhai, o te hutukawa, o te rātā, o te heketara, o te rangiora (TTT 1/4/1929:972). / The flowers of the trees were quite beautiful, that is of the kōwhai, the pōhutukawa, the rātā, the tree daisy and the rangiora.
See also kōhai