Trees of New York State 335 



SCROPHULARIACEAE 



Paulo\viii;i toiiieiitosa (Tliuiih.) Steud. [Biiruonia toiiientosa Tlinng. ; Paul- 

 owiiia iiuperialis Sieb. and Zuc] 



Paulownia 



Habit — A low, wide-spreading tree 120-40 feet in height with a trunk 1-3 

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

 few stout, spreading linibs 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. 



riowers — Appearing in May before the leaves unfold, perfect, sho\\-A', 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 di^-ided into 5 spread- 

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

 tube, included, didynamous, 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 leathers', 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-Avinged 

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



Winter characters — Twigs stout, glabrous, greenish brown, conspicuously 

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

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

 V2 of an inch long, preformed the previous 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 New York City. Zone A. 



Uses — 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 winter- 

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

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

 Orient. 



