CATALPA. 

 Catalpa bignonioides, Walter. 



FAMILY AND GENUS DESCRIPTION— This tree belongs to the Bignonia family, Bignoni- 

 aceae, which comprises about 100 genera with 1,500 species. Most of the representatives of this 

 family occur in the tropics; only a few are found in the temperate zone. They occur as trees, 

 shrubs, woody climbers, or rarely herbs. North America has only 6 genera with 8 species in its 

 flora and Pennsylvania 3 genera with 3 species. The genus Catalpa is the only one which has 

 tree representatives occuring rather frequently in this State. This genus comprises about 7 

 species in the world, of which number 2 are native to North America. No representative of this 

 genus is native to Pennsylvania but 1 species has been naturalized so extensively in every part 

 of the State, that a description of it in this publication was considered desirable. 



FORM — Usually 25-40 ft. high but may reach a height of 60 ft., with a diameter of 3 feet. 

 Trunk usually short, crooked, often angular, and unattractive. Crown high, broad, and rather 

 symmetrical in appearance in summer, due to the dense foliage. 



BARK — Light brown, rather thin, shallowly-ridged, scaly, bitter, 



TWIGS — Stout, smooth, or slightly downy, yellowish-brown, usually frozen back, covered with 

 numerous large lenticels, roughened by leaf-scars. Pith large, white sometimes chambered at 

 the nodes. See Plate II, 2. 



BUDS — Terminal bud usually absent. Lateral buds small, almost inbedded in bark, usually less 

 than i of an inch long, covered with 5-6 visible, small, brown bud-scales. 



LEAVES — Opposite or whorled i. e., more than two at a node, simple, 6-10 inches long, 4-5 

 inches broad, ovate, heart-shaped at base, acute at apex, entire or wavy on margin. Fall 

 simultaneously after first heavy frost. 



LEAF-SCARS — Opposite or 3 at a node, large, conspicuous, with projecting margin, elliptical 

 in outline, with conspicuous bundle-scars usually arranged in an ellipse. 



FLOWERS — Appear in June or July. Perfect, arranged in many-flowered crowded panicles 

 from 8-10 inches long. Corolla is conspicuously spotted on inner surface. 



FRUIT — A long, cylindrical, bean-like capsule which often persists far into winter and con- 

 tains many flattened winged seeds. Wings surround seeds and are fringed at ends. Tree is 

 sometimes called Indian Bean on account of fruit. 



WOOD — Ring-porous; distinct demarcation between heartwood and sapwood; odor somewhat 

 like kerosene; light, soft, coarse-grained; durable in contact with soil, light brown, and has 

 a satiny surface. Weighs about 26 lbs. per cubic foot. Used mainly for cross-ties, posts and 

 poles. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS— The Eastern Catalpa, also known as Catalpa, Indian 

 Bean, and Cigar Tree, can be distinguished in summer by its leaves which are opposite or 

 whorled and its large panicles of flowers. The cigar-like or bean-like fruit is characteristic in 

 autumn and winter. In winter it can be distinguished by its large elliptical leaf-scars which 

 are opposite or whorled and have their bundle-scars arranged in an ellipse. The pith is sometimes 

 chambered at the nodes. The Eastern Catalpa closely resembles the Western Catalpa but has 

 slenderer and thinner walled fruit, larger flower-clusters, more distinct markings on inner surface 

 of corolla, and more blunt-pointed leaves. The Western Catalpa is more frost hardy than the 

 Eastern Catalpa. 



RANGE — Original range was limited to parts of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida. 

 At present found in all parts of the country east of the Rocky Mountains and as far North 

 as New England. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA— Planted for ornamental purposes in many parts of the 

 State and has escaped cultivation in practically every part of the State. Individual specimens 

 or small groups of trees are common in the forest near settlements. 



HABITAT — Prefers moist and fertile situations, is most common along streams and river 

 banks, but also found in drier places. Prefers shaded to open situations. 



• IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES — Two species of Catalpa are commonly recognized, the 

 Eastern Catalpa and the Western or Hardy Catalpa. Both have been widely advertised. The 

 Western species is hardier against frost and produces a straighter and cleaner trunk. Neither 

 of the 2 species should be planted for forestry purposes in this State. Both species produce beauti- 

 ful flowers and foliage and attractive fruit. 



