﻿Trees of New York State 335 



SCROPHULARIACEAE 



Paulownia tomentosa (Thimb.) Steud. [Bignonia tomentosa Tliimg. ; Paul- 

 ownia imperialis Sieb. and Zuc] 



Paulownia 



Habit — A low, ^vide-spreadiug tree 20-40 feet in height with a trunk 1-3 

 feet in diameter. Bole short, dividing 5-8 feet above the ground into a 

 few stout, spreading limbs which form a broad, flat-topped crown. 



Leaves — Opposite, broadly ovate, 5-8 inches long or on vigorous shoots much 

 larger, acuminate at the apex, cordate at the base, entire or 3-lobed, at 

 maturity thick, dark green and nearly smooth above, paler and tomentose 

 beneath, borne on stout, terete petioles 3-5 inches in length. 



Flowers — Appearing in May before the leaves imf old, perfect, showy, frag- 

 rant, l%-2 inches long, borne on stout, pubescent pedicels in terminal, 

 upright panicles, 8-12 inches long. Calyx rusty-tomentose, deeply 5-cleft, 

 persistent in fruit, the lobes short and acteu. Corolla pale violet, pubes- 

 cent ■without, irregular, the tube enlarged above and divided into 5 spread- 

 ing, rounded, somewhat unequal lobes. Stamens 4, inserted on the corolla 

 tube, included, didjTiamous, with slender filaments and wide-spreading 

 anther-sacs. Pistil consisting of an ovate, 2-celled ovary surmounted by 

 a filiform style somewhat thickened at the apex and stigmatic on the 

 inner side. 



Fruit — A leathery, olive-brown or bronze, broadly ovoid, pointed capsule, 

 1-2 inches long, %-l inch thick, shallowly longitudinally grooved on 

 either side, subtended by the persistent calyx. At maturity the capsule 

 opens by 2 loculicidal sutures to set free the numerous, small, lace-winged 

 seeds. Opened capsules persist on the branches throughout the winter. 



Winter characters — T^vigs stout, glabrous, greenish brown, conspicuously 

 marked with large, nearly orbicular, elevated leaf-scars and prominent 

 lentieels, at length dark brown. Flower-buds ellipsoid, pubescent, nearly 

 % of an inch long, preformed the previo4.is season, borne in large, upright, 

 paniculate clusters. Leaf -buds semi-circular, compressed, light brown, % 

 of an inch long^ the bud-scales spreading at the apex of the bud. Pith 

 diaphragmed. Mature bark rather thick, dark grayish brown, mottled 

 with shallow, grayish white, anastomosing fissures. 



Habitat — In waste places about the habitations of man. Prefers deep, rich, 

 moist soils. 



Range — Xew York City southward to Florida and western Texas. Intro- 

 duced from the Orient and now naturalized as far north as the latitude 

 of ZSTew York City. Zone A. 



XJses — Propagated in the eastern United States for its large, showy, fragrant 

 flowers and large leaves which give a tropical effect. It will not flower 

 beyond the latitude of New York City. Farther north it usually ^\'inter- 

 kills to the ground each season but will continue to send up vigorous 

 sprouts for a number of years. The soft, light wood is prized in the 

 Orient. 



