Catalpa
| Catalpa | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Catalpa speciosa flowers, leaf and bark | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Bignoniaceae |
| Tribe: | Tecomeae |
| Genus: | Catalpa Scopoli |
| Species | |
Catalpa, commonly called catalpa or catawba, is a genus of flowering plants in the trumpet vine family, Bignoniaceae, native to warm temperate regions of North America, the Caribbean, and East Asia.
Catalpas, mostly deciduous trees, typically grow to 12–18 metres (39–59 ft) tall and 6–12 metres (20–39 ft) wide. A 10-year-old sapling will stand about 6 metres (20 ft) tall. They can be recognized by their large, heart-shaped to three-lobed leaves, showy white or yellow flowers in broad panicles, and in the autumn by their 20–50 centimetres (7.9–20 in) long fruits, which resemble a slender bean pod, containing numerous small flat seeds, each seed having two thin wings to aid in wind dispersal. Because of the leaves, they are sometimes confused with the tung tree (Vernicia fordii) in the southern U.S., or the invasive Paulownia tomentosa imported from China.
Due to their large leaf size, catalpas provide very dark shade and are a popular habitat for many birds, providing them good shelter from rain and wind. These trees have very little limb droppage, but drop large, dark brown bean pods during late summer. The wood of catalpas is quite soft.[1]
The two North American species, southern catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides), and northern catalpa (Catalpa speciosa) have been widely planted outside their natural ranges as ornamental trees for their showy flowers and attractive shape, or growing habit. Northern and southern catalpas are very similar in appearance, but the northern species has slightly larger leaves, flowers, and bean pods. Flowering starts after 275 growing degree days. The yellow catalpa (Catalpa ovata) from China, with pale yellow flowers, is also planted outside its natural range for ornamental purposes.
The name derives from the Catawba Native American name catawba for these trees (the tribal totem), with the spelling catalpa being due to a transcription error on the part of the describing botanist (Scopoli) making the first formal scientific description of the genus. The rules of botanical naming state that the spelling used in the formal scientific description has to be retained for the scientific name. The name in vernacular use has very largely (though not completely) followed Scopoli's erroneous transcription, with catawba still in use in some areas of the United States, most particularly within the trees' native range.
The bean-like seed pod is the origin of the alternative vernacular names Indian bean tree and cigar tree for Catalpa bignonioides and Catalpa speciosa, respectively.
The tree is the sole source of food for the catalpa sphinx moth (Ceratomia catalpae), the leaves being eaten by the caterpillars. When caterpillars are numerous, infested trees may be completely defoliated. Defoliated catalpas produce new leaves readily, but with multiple generations occurring, new foliage may be consumed by subsequent broods. Severe defoliation over several consecutive years can cause death of trees. Because the caterpillars are an excellent live bait for fishing, some dedicated anglers plant catalpa mini-orchards for their own private source of "catawba-worms", particularly in the southern states.[2]
The largest living catalpa tree is on the grounds of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan; it was planted in the year of its dedication, 1879. The oldest is the 150-year-old specimen in the Minster graveyard of St Mary’s Butts in the English town of Reading in Berkshire, although this is soon to be replaced, passing the claim to Rochester's 140-year-old catalpa situated in front of the town's cathedral.
Catalpa is also occasionally used as a tonewood in guitars.
[edit] Selected species
Catalpa bignonioides Walter - southern catalpa
Catalpa brevipes Urb. -
Catalpa bungei C.A.Mey. -
Catalpa cassinoides Spreng. -
Catalpa communis Dum.Cours. -
Catalpa cordifolia Moench -
Catalpa denticulata Urb. -
Catalpa domingensis Urb. -
Catalpa duclouxii Dode -
Catalpa ekmaniana Urb. -
Catalpa fargesii Bur. -
Catalpa henryi Dode -
Catalpa heterophylla Dode -
Catalpa himalayensis Hort. ex Dippel -
Catalpa hirsuta Spreng. -
Catalpa kaempferi Siebold & Zucc. -
Catalpa longisiliqua Cham. -
Catalpa longissima (Jacq.) Dum.Cours. - Haitian catalpa
Catalpa macrocarpa Ekman -
Catalpa microphylla Spreng. -
Catalpa nana Hort. ex Dippel -
Catalpa oblongata Urb. & Ekman -
Catalpa obovata Urb. -
Catalpa ovata G.Don - yellow catalpa
Catalpa pottsii Seem. -
Catalpa pubescens (Griseb.) Bisse -
Catalpa pumila Hort. ex Wien. -
Catalpa punctata Griseb. -
Catalpa purpurea Griseb. -
Catalpa silvestrii (Pamp. & Bonati) S.Y.Hu -
Catalpa speciosa Warder ex Engelm. - northern catalpa
Catalpa sutchuensis Dode -
Catalpa ternifolia Cav. -
Catalpa thunbergii Hort. ex Wien. -
Catalpa tibetica Forrest -
Catalpa umbraculifera Hort. -
Catalpa vestita Diels -
Catalpa wallichiana Hort. ex Wien. -
[edit] References
- ^ Maroni, Kristi; Sarah Domville (2003-12-04). "Catalpa Tree". Tree Walk. Nazareth College of Rochester. http://www-pub.naz.edu:9000/~treewalk/catalpa/catalpa.htm. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
- ^ Hyche, L. L., "The Catalpa Sphinx" Department of Entomology Auburn University, http://www.ag.auburn.edu/enpl/bulletins/catalpasphinx/catalpasphinx.htm Retrieved on 2009, 05-16.
- ^ "Species Records of Catalpa". ARS, National Genetic Resources Program, GRIN. USDA . http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?2168. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
- ^ "Plant name details for Catalpa ". IPNI. http://ipni.org:80/ipni/advPlantNameSearch.do;jsessionid=B4029AC83F3EFD1813C6CF282EDB1069?find_family=&find_genus=Catalpa&find_species=&find_infrafamily=&find_infragenus=&find_infraspecies=&find_authorAbbrev=&find_includePublicationAuthors=on&find_includePublicationAuthors=off&find_includeBasionymAuthors=on&find_includeBasionymAuthors=off&find_publicationTitle=&find_isAPNIRecord=on&find_isAPNIRecord=false&find_isGCIRecord=on&find_isGCIRecord=false&find_isIKRecord=on&find_isIKRecord=false&find_rankToReturn=spec&output_format=normal&find_sortByFamily=on&find_sortByFamily=off&query_type=by_query&back_page=plantsearch. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
[edit] External links
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