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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)]].''
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Catalpa
| image = Cataspec.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Catalpa speciosa'' flowers, leaf and bark
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Lamiales]]
| familia = [[Bignoniaceae]]
| genus = '''''Catalpa'''''
| genus_authority = [[Giovanni Antonio Scopoli|Scopoli]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
11 species, including:<br/>
''[[Catalpa bignonioides]]''<br/>
''[[Catalpa bungei]]''<br/>
''[[Catalpa fargesii]]''<br/>
''[[Catalpa longissima]]''<br/>
''[[Catalpa ovata]]''<br/>
''[[Catalpa punctata]]''<br/>
''[[Catalpa speciosa]]''<br/>
''[[Catalpa tibetica]]''
}}
'''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]].
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.
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.
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.]]
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.
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''.
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".
[[Image:Catalpa_Reading.JPG|left|250px|thumb|The Catalpa tree in Reading, UK.]]
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]].
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.
Catalpa is also occasionally used as a tonewood in guitars.
==External links==
*[http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/frame/casp8.htm ''Catalpa speciosa'' images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu]
*[http://www.reading.gov.uk/news/councilnews/NewsArticle.asp?id=SX9452-A7821BC8 Reading Borough Council report on essential action to save Catalpa tree]
[[Category:Bignoniaceae]]
[[Category:trees]]
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Catalpa
| image = Cataspec.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Catalpa speciosa'' flowers, leaf and bark
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Lamiales]]
| familia = [[Bignoniaceae]]
| genus = '''''Catalpa'''''
| genus_authority = [[Giovanni Antonio Scopoli|Scopoli]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
11 species, including:<br/>
''[[Catalpa bignonioides]]''<br/>
''[[Catalpa bungei]]''<br/>
''[[Catalpa fargesii]]''<br/>
''[[Catalpa longissima]]''<br/>
''[[Catalpa ovata]]''<br/>
''[[Catalpa punctata]]''<br/>
''[[Catalpa speciosa]]''<br/>
''[[Catalpa tibetica]]''
}}
'''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]].
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.
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.
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.]]
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.
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''.
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".
[[Image:Catalpa_Reading.JPG|left|250px|thumb|The Catalpa tree in Reading, UK.]]
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]].
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.
Catalpa is also occasionally used as a tonewood in guitars.
==External links==
*[http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/frame/casp8.htm ''Catalpa speciosa'' images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu]
*[http://www.reading.gov.uk/news/councilnews/NewsArticle.asp?id=SX9452-A7821BC8 Reading Borough Council report on essential action to save Catalpa tree]
[[Category:Bignoniaceae]]
[[Category:trees]]