Handbook of Tbees of tub Noethekn States and Canada. 405 



The Common Catalpa rarely attains a 

 greater height than 50 or 60 ft., and its short 

 stout trunk is sometimes 3 or 4 ft. in diameter. 

 Its habit is to form a wide rounded top, of 

 few spreading crooked branches and thick up- 

 right branch lets. It is late in spring, after 

 the leaves of most of the trees are well along, 

 when this tree opens its buds and unfolds its 

 ample leaves, and these are soon after fol- 

 lowed by its beautiful pyramids of flowers, 

 which are scarcely equaled in size and at- 

 tractiveness by those of any other American 

 tree. As we contemplate the mass of heart- 

 shaped leaves interspersed with these great 

 pyramids of handsome flowers we do not 

 wonder that it is extensively planted for orna- 

 ment both in this country and in Europe. 

 Through this agency it has become widely 

 naturalized throughout eastern United States. 

 far outside of its native habitat. The limit 

 of its natural range cannot be determined with 

 certainty, but its supposed limits are indicated 

 on the aeompanying map. 



The wood is soft, coarse-grained and durable, 

 and valued for fence-posts, rails, etc. A cubic 

 foot, when absolutely dry, weighs 27.88 Ibs.- 



Leaves broad-ovate, 6-12 in. long, cordate at 

 base, acute or acuminate, entire or witli 1 or li 

 lateral lobes, strong-scented, pale tomentose at 

 first, at maturity light green and glabrous atio^'e. 

 paler, pubescent and with dark glands in the 

 axils ot the veins beneath ; petioles terete and 

 nearly as Ion? as the blades. Flon-rrfi numerous 

 in large panicles, 8-10 in. long and broad : corolla 

 nearly 2 in. in length, and 1 Va in. broad cam- 

 panulate, white thickly spotted within on lower 

 side with yellow and purple ; lower lobe entire. 

 Fruit: capsule 10-20 in. long, 14 -% in. thick, thin- 

 walled ; seeds about % in. wide with gray wings 

 terminating mostly in pointed tufts of hairs.^ 



1. Syn. Catalpa hignonioides Walt. 



2. A. W., IV, 89. 



3. For genus see p. 4.50. 



