Difference between revisions of "Catalpa"

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__NOTOC__{{Plantbox
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| name = ''Catalpa''
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| common_names =    <!--- if multiple, list all, if none, leave blank -->
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| growth_habit = trees
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| high = ?  <!--- 1m (3 ft) -->
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| wide =    <!--- 65cm (25 inches) -->
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| origin = ?  <!--- Mexico, S America, S Europe, garden, etc -->
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| poisonous =    <!--- indicate parts of plants which are known/thought to be poisonous -->
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| lifespan = perennial
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| exposure = ?  <!--- full sun, part-sun, semi-shade, shade, indoors, bright filtered (you may list more than 1) -->
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| water = ?  <!--- frequent, regular, moderate, drought tolerant, let dry then soak -->
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| features =    <!--- flowers, fragrance, fruit, naturalizes, invasive -->
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| hardiness =    <!--- frost sensitive, hardy, 5°C (40°F), etc -->
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| bloom =    <!--- seasons which the plant blooms, if it is grown for its flowers -->
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| usda_zones = ?  <!--- eg. 8-11 -->
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| sunset_zones =    <!--- eg. 8, 9, 12-24, not available -->
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| color = IndianRed
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| image = Cataspec.jpg
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| image_width = 180px    <!--- leave as 240px if horizontal orientation photo, or change to 180px if vertical -->
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| image_caption = ''Catalpa speciosa'' flowers, leaf and bark
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| regnum = Plantae
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| divisio = Magnoliophyta
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| classis = Magnoliopsida
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| ordo = Lamiales
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| familia = Bignoniaceae
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| genus = Catalpa
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}}
 
{{Inc|
 
{{Inc|
 
Catalpa (the Indian name of C. bignonioides). Bignoniaceae. Ornamental trees, often cultivated for their handsome flowers appearing in large and showy panicles in summer, and for their heavy foliage.
 
Catalpa (the Indian name of C. bignonioides). Bignoniaceae. Ornamental trees, often cultivated for their handsome flowers appearing in large and showy panicles in summer, and for their heavy foliage.
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The coarse-grained and soft wood is very durable in the ground, and, therefore, much valued for fence-psts and railway ties. Catalpa bignonioides and particularly C. speciosa are sometimes planted as avenue trees. For formal gardens, if low round-headed trees are desired, C. bignonioides var. nana is to be recommended. They grow in almost any somewhat moist soil, and are hardy as far north as New England. Propagated by seeds sown in spring, in the North, best with slight bottom heat, or by cuttings from ripe wood, the varieties often by softwood cuttings in early summer or by grafting on seedlings or on roots under glass in spring; also increased sometimes by layers and root cuttings.
 
The coarse-grained and soft wood is very durable in the ground, and, therefore, much valued for fence-psts and railway ties. Catalpa bignonioides and particularly C. speciosa are sometimes planted as avenue trees. For formal gardens, if low round-headed trees are desired, C. bignonioides var. nana is to be recommended. They grow in almost any somewhat moist soil, and are hardy as far north as New England. Propagated by seeds sown in spring, in the North, best with slight bottom heat, or by cuttings from ripe wood, the varieties often by softwood cuttings in early summer or by grafting on seedlings or on roots under glass in spring; also increased sometimes by layers and root cuttings.
  
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C. langissima, Sims. Tree to 50 ft.: lvs. oblong-ovate, coriaceous: fls. small, white. W. Indies; often planted as shade tree in Cuba.{{SCH}}
 
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}}
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:''For the historical incident involving a ship of this name, see [[Catalpa rescue]]. For the album by Jolie Holland, see [[Catalpa (album)]].''
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{{Taxobox
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==Cultivation==
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| color = lightgreen
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{{edit-cult}}<!--- Type cultivation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
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| name = Catalpa
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| image = Cataspec.jpg
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===Propagation===
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| image_width = 240px
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{{edit-prop}}<!--- Type propagation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
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| image_caption = ''Catalpa speciosa'' flowers, leaf and bark
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| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
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===Pests and diseases===
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| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
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{{edit-pests}}<!--- Type pest/disease info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
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| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
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| ordo = [[Lamiales]]
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==Species==
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| familia = [[Bignoniaceae]]
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11 species, including{{wp}}:<br/>
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| genus = '''''Catalpa'''''
 
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| genus_authority = [[Giovanni Antonio Scopoli|Scopoli]]
 
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| subdivision_ranks = Species
 
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| subdivision =  
 
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11 species, including:<br/>
 
 
''[[Catalpa bignonioides]]''<br/>
 
''[[Catalpa bignonioides]]''<br/>
 
''[[Catalpa bungei]]''<br/>
 
''[[Catalpa bungei]]''<br/>
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''[[Catalpa speciosa]]''<br/>
 
''[[Catalpa speciosa]]''<br/>
 
''[[Catalpa tibetica]]''
 
''[[Catalpa tibetica]]''
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}}
 
  
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'''Catalpa''' , also spelled '''Catawba''', is a genus of mostly [[deciduous]] [[tree]]s in the [[flowering plant]] family [[Bignoniaceae]], native to warm temperate regions of [[North America]], the [[West Indies]], and eastern [[Asia]].
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==Gallery==
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{{photo-sources}}<!-- remove this line if there are already 3 or more photos in the gallery  -->
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Catalpas grow to 10-25 m tall, and can be recognized by their large heart-shaped to three-lobed [[leaf|leaves]], showy white or yellow [[flower]]s in broad panicles, and in the autumn by their 20-50 cm long [[fruit]]s which resemble a slender [[bean]] pod, containing numerous small flat seeds, each seed having two thin wings to aid wind dispersal. Because of the leaves, they are sometimes confused for [[Tung tree]]s in the south U.S.
 
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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 they do drop large bean pods during late summer.
 
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The two [[North America]]n species, Southern Catalpa (''Catalpa bignonioides''), and Northern Catalpa (''Catalpa speciosa'') have been widely planted outside their natural ranges as [[ornamental plant|ornamental trees]] for their showy flowers and attractive shape, or growing habit. Northern and Southern Catalpa are very similar in appearance, but the northern species has slightly larger leaves, flowers, and bean pods. Flowering starts after 275 [[growing degree day]]s. The Yellow Catalpa 梓樹 (''Catalpa ovata'') from [[China]], with pale yellow flowers, is also planted outside its natural range for ornamental purposes.
 
 
[[Image:Northern Catalpa beanpods.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Beanpods and leaf details of the Northern Catalpa.]]
 
[[Image:Northern Catalpa beanpods.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Beanpods and leaf details of the Northern Catalpa.]]
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The name derives from the [[Catawba (tribe)|Catawba]] [[Native Americans in the United States|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 [[International Code of Botanical Nomenclature|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.
 
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The bean-like seed pod is the origin of the alternative vernacular names '''Indian Bean Tree''' and '''Cigar Tree''' for ''C. bignonioides'' and ''C. speciosa''.
 
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The tree is the food plant of the [[Catalpa Sphinx]] moth, the leaves being eaten by the [[caterpillar]]s.  The caterpillars are an excellent live bait for fishing, particularly in the south U.S. where some dedicated anglers plant catalpa mini-orchards for their own private source of "catawba-worms".
 
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[[Image:Catalpa_Reading.JPG‎|left|250px|thumb|The Catalpa tree in Reading, UK.]]
 
[[Image:Catalpa_Reading.JPG‎|left|250px|thumb|The Catalpa tree in Reading, UK.]]
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<gallery>
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Image:CatalpaFlowerCloseup.jpg| Flower of Catalpa tree
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Image:Catalpa.jpg| Catalpa
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Image:Upload.png| photo 3
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</gallery>
  
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The largest living Catalpa tree is on the lawn of the [[Michigan State Capitol]], which was planted at the time the Capitol was dedicated in [[1873]].  
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==References==
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*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
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The oldest is the 150-year-old specimen in the Minster graveyard of [[Reading Minster|St Mary’s Butts]] in the UK town of [[Reading, Berkshire]]. The council have now removed the deadwood and trimmed its branches to prevent its collapse, but the trunk and tree are still alive but in poor health. A replacement tree has already been planted to pre-empt its eventual loss.
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<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
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Catalpa is also occasionally used as a tonewood in guitars.
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<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
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*[http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/frame/casp8.htm ''Catalpa speciosa'' images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu]
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*{{wplink}}
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*[http://www.reading.gov.uk/news/councilnews/NewsArticle.asp?id=SX9452-A7821BC8 Reading Borough Council report on essential action to save Catalpa tree]
 
  
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{{stub}}
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[[Category:Categorize]]
 
[[Category:Bignoniaceae]]
 
[[Category:Bignoniaceae]]
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[[Category:trees]]
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<!--  in order to add all the proper categories, go to http://www.plants.am/wiki/Plant_Categories and copy/paste the contents of the page here, and then follow the easy instructions!    -->

Latest revision as of 19:14, 24 June 2009


Catalpa speciosa flowers, leaf and bark


Plant Characteristics
Lifespan: ⌛ perennial
Origin: ✈ ?
Cultivation
Exposure: ☼ ?"?" is not in the list (sun, part-sun, shade, unknown) of allowed values for the "Exposure" property.
Water: ◍ ?"?" is not in the list (wet, moist, moderate, dry, less when dormant) of allowed values for the "Water" property.
Scientific Names

Bignoniaceae >

Catalpa >



Read about Catalpa in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

Catalpa (the Indian name of C. bignonioides). Bignoniaceae. Ornamental trees, often cultivated for their handsome flowers appearing in large and showy panicles in summer, and for their heavy foliage.

Leaves usually deciduous, opposite, long-petioled, entire or coarsely lobed: fls. in terminal panicles; calyx splitting irregularly or 2-lipped; corolla campanulate, 2-lipped, with 2 smaller upper and 3 larger lower lobes; fertile stamens 2, curved, with diverging anther-sacs, not exceeding the tube of the corolla; style 2-lobed at the apex; slightly longer than the stamens: fr. a very long cylindrical caps., separating into 2 valves, with numerous small oblong compressed seeds bearing a tuft of white hairs on each end.—About 10 species in N. Amer., W. India and E. Asia, of which 6 are hardy in the northern temperate regions.

Catalpas are deciduous or rarely evergreen trees with opposite or sometimes whorled, long-petioled, large and simple leaves emitting in most species a disagreeable odor when bruised, and with white, pinkish or yellowish flowers in large and showy panicles followed by very long and narrow cylindric pods.

The coarse-grained and soft wood is very durable in the ground, and, therefore, much valued for fence-psts and railway ties. Catalpa bignonioides and particularly C. speciosa are sometimes planted as avenue trees. For formal gardens, if low round-headed trees are desired, C. bignonioides var. nana is to be recommended. They grow in almost any somewhat moist soil, and are hardy as far north as New England. Propagated by seeds sown in spring, in the North, best with slight bottom heat, or by cuttings from ripe wood, the varieties often by softwood cuttings in early summer or by grafting on seedlings or on roots under glass in spring; also increased sometimes by layers and root cuttings.

C. langissima, Sims. Tree to 50 ft.: lvs. oblong-ovate, coriaceous: fls. small, white. W. Indies; often planted as shade tree in Cuba.CH


The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.


Cultivation

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Propagation

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Pests and diseases

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Species

11 species, includingwp:
Catalpa bignonioides
Catalpa bungei
Catalpa fargesii
Catalpa longissima
Catalpa ovata
Catalpa punctata
Catalpa speciosa
Catalpa tibetica

Gallery

If you have a photo of this plant, please upload it! Plus, there may be other photos available for you to add.

Beanpods and leaf details of the Northern Catalpa.
The Catalpa tree in Reading, UK.

  • Flower of Catalpa tree

  • Catalpa

  • photo 3

References

External links


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