The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

kowhai \kowhai\ n.
   A shrub or small tree (Sophora tetraptera) of New Zealand
   and Chile having pendulous racemes of tubular golden-yellow
   flowers; it yields a hard strong wood.

   Syn: Sophora tetraptera.
        [WordNet 1.5]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

kowhai
    n 1: shrub or small tree of New Zealand and Chile having
         pendulous racemes of tubular golden-yellow flowers; yields
         a hard strong wood [syn: kowhai, Sophora tetraptera]