11 \\l\)\ ( \T \\v \ 

 Catalpa speeiosa Wardi 



The Trumpet-creeper Family 



BIGNO \i 



Habit and Habitat: A tree, reaching a height of .':o-iu feet with 



us, ionally tailor, with a short, often crooked trunk bearing a broad, 



rounded, open crown composed of Beveral spreading branches and many 

 thick, clu -like branchlets and twigs; sometimes the trunk is quite 

 straight and tall, but with rapid taper. Prefers moist, rich soils and 

 an abundance of light. Develops ideally in the lowlands of southeastern 

 Nebraska. • 



Leaves and Buds: Leaves opposite or whorled, simple, 4-10 incl 

 NEBR TREES TWENTY ONE 



Ion. inches broad; heart-shaped, entire or occasionally somewhat 



notched or lobed. smooth and dark green above, downy beneath; petioles 



>tout, cylindrical, with a broad base; leaves turning dark brown or 



black as they fall after heavy frost. Buds small, brown, globular, often 

 trcely visible above the large circular leaf scars. 



Flowers and Fruits: Flowers in midsummer, after the leaves are 

 Cull grown, borne on slender more or less purplish pedicels in broad, 

 loosely flowered clusters 5-6 inches ong; calyx 2-lobed, purplish; corolla 

 white with prominent yellow spots, bell-shaped, 5-lobed, 1-2 inches broad, 

 with irregularly toothed or fringed margins, fertile; stamens 2; ovary 

 L'-celled. The fruit is a long, slender pod or capsule about % inch thick 

 and t'.-lo inches long, ripening in early fall, but often hanging on the t 

 all winter, or shedding the seeds during the winter, each pod containing 

 many light brown or tawny seeds about 1 inch long, and % inch wide, with 

 rounded, hairy-fringed wings at each end. 



Bark, Twigs and Wood: The bark on the twigs is greenish, often 

 more or less purplish, becoming reddish-brown and covered with a thin 

 grayish or whitish bloom in the first autumn, dark brown when older, thick 

 scaly and light brown on the older branches and the main, trunk. The 

 lateral buds are brownish, small and inconspicuous; terminal bud 

 absent. The wood is light, coarse-grained, annual rings very distinct 

 and usually wide, light brown; sapwood very thin and almost white. 

 soft, weak; Very durable in contact wth the soil, works easily and takes 

 a fine finish. 



Distribution in the State: A native of the Ohio valley and the 

 southeast, but has been planted very widely in almost all parts of the 



ited States. It is not hardy in the northern states, but does \ 

 Well indeed in southern and eastern Nebraska when planted in moist 

 rich soil. Does not do well in central, northern or western Nebraska. 



Remarks: There is no better tree than this to plant in the south- 

 tern section of Nebraska for fence posts and pol I would not 

 K>mmend it for planting north of the Platte river or west of H 

 ings. It should always be planted in low. moist, well-drained sites. The 

 -t method in growing hardy catalpa for posts is to cut 1 ack the young 



to the ground at the end of the first or Second n and then thin 



out all but one or two of the best sprouts. This method will prod 



much better trees for Dosts and polos. Because of the rapid growth, < , 

 o r culture, and durability of wood, this is really our best tree to plant 

 for fence posts. 



—157 



