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CATALPA 



{Catalpa speciosa Engelm.) 



THIS species of catalpa, knoMTi also as Indian 

 beam or Indian cigar, and often miscalled 

 "catawba," is native to the central Mississippi River 

 basin, but has been Avidely planted and has spread 

 somewhat farther as a result of cultivation. The 

 catalpas are found sparsely throughout the State 

 except in the extreme southern section, and occur on 

 various qualities of soil, 

 but most frequently on 

 rich, moist soil, such as 

 bottoms. It is a medium- 

 sized tree, 

 usually not ex- 

 ceeding 40 to 50 

 feet in height 

 and 12 to 15 

 inches in diam- 

 eter. The trunk 

 is usually short 

 and the head 

 broadwith 

 spreading 

 branches. B e- 

 cause of its at- 

 tractive flowers 

 and conspicu- 

 ous heart- 

 shaped leaves, 

 it is consider- 

 ably used for 

 shade and ornament. 



The leaves are simple, opposite, oval, long-pointed, 

 6 to 10 inches long, and heart-shaped at the base. 

 The catalpa Sphinx moth is a pest and sometimes de- 

 foliates the tree. 



The flowers appear in clusters or panicles in May 

 or June. They are white with purple and yellow 

 markings, and this makes them decidedly showy and 

 attractive. The fruit consists of a bean-like pod, 8 

 to 16 inches long and from three-eighths to one-half 

 inch in diameter. It hangs on the tree over winter 

 and gradually splits into 2 parts, or halves. The 

 seeds are about 1 inch long and terminate in wings 

 that are rounded and short-fringed at the ends. 

 They are freely carried by the wind. 



The wood is rather soft, light, coarse-grained, and 

 durable in contact with the soil. It is used for fence 

 posts, poles and fuel, and occasionally for railroad 

 ties. 



80 



CATALPA 

 Leaf, one-third natural size. 

 Twig, two-thirds natural size. 



Library 

 N. C, State Collf?"-* 



