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Paulownia (after Anna Paulowna, princess of the Netherlands).
Scrophulariaceae. Ornamental trees, grown for their beautiful flowers
in showy panicles and for their large handsome foliage.
Deciduous, rarely half-evergreen: lvs. opposite, long- petioled,
entire or sometimes 3-lobed or coarsely toothed, without stipules:
fls.-. in terminal panicles; calyx campanulate, 5-lobed; corolla with
long slightly curved tube, and spreading oblique 5-lobed limb;
stamens 4: fr. a 2-celled caps., loculicidally dehiscent, with
numerous small winged seeds.—About 8 species in China; in Japan only
cult.
The paulownias are medium-sized or fairly large trees with stout
spreading branches, large long-petioled leaves similar to those of
catalpa, and violet or nearly white large flowers resembling those of
the foxglove or gloxinia in shape, appearing in terminal panicles
before or with the leaves and followed by ovoid pods remaining on the
tree and conspicuous during the winter. P. tomentosa is fairly hardy
in sheltered positions as far north as Massachusetts, but the
flower-buds are usually - killed in winter, and it does not flower
regularly north of New York City; plants raised from seed collected
in Korea have proved hardier at the Arnold Arboretum than the
commonly cultivated Japanese plant, also the var. lanata from Central
China seems to be somewhat hardier. As an ornamental foliage plant it
may be grown as far north as Montreal, where it is killed to the
ground every winter, but throws up from the root vigorous shoots
attaining 10 to 14 feet, with leaves over 1 foot and occasionally
even 2 feet long. If used as a foliage plant and cut back to the
ground every spring, the young shoots should be removed, except one
or very few on each plant; during the first years of this treatment
they will grow more vigorous every year, but afterward they will
decrease in size, weakened by the continuous cutting back; they
should then be replaced by strong young plants. Where the flower-buds
which are formed the previous year are not killed by frost, the
paulownia is one of the most conspicuous flowering trees in spring,
and in summer the foliage, although it is of somewhat dull color,
attracts attention by the size of the leaves. In temperate climates
it is sometimes used as an avenue tree. It thrives best in a light
deep loam, and in a sheltered position. The other species are still
little known in cultivation and are probably tenderer; they are great
favorites with the Chinese and much planted in central and southern
China. Propagation is by seeds sown in spring or by root-cuttings,
and by greenwood cuttings under glass; it may be grown also from
leaf-cuttings; the young unfolding leaves when about 1 inch long are
cut off close to the stems and inserted in sand under a hand-glass in
the propagating-house.
Paulownia tomentosa in southern California reaches a height of 40
feet in twenty-five years, with a spread nearly as great. When in
full leaf it makes a dense shade. It starts to bloom before the
leaves come and all is over before the tree is in full leaf. For this
reason it is not a favorite. The Jacaranda is a prettier blue, more
floriferous, lasts three times as long, the blooms continuing until
the tree is in full leaf. It is out of leaf not more than half as
long as is paulownia and in mild winters holds much of its foliage
throughout, being properly an evergreen. It makes as dense shade as
the paulownia, has a prettier leaf and is more desirable in every
way. The growth of the two trees is about the same at the end of a
quarter century. The habit of the paulownia in retaining dry
seed-pods on dead limbs 3 or 4 feet long is very unpleasing, and
necessitates a thorough cleaning each year to the tip end of the
uppermost branch—often a hard task to accomplish. (Ernest Braunton.)
P. Duclouxii, Dode. Tree, to 60 ft.: lvs. oblong-ovate, with open
sinus- at the base, tomentose below, to 1 ft. long: fls. about 3 in.
long, pale lavender-purple, not spotted ; calyx with acute tomentoee
lobes and glabrous or glabrescent tube ; corolla rather gradually
narrowed toward the base. Cent, and 8. W. China.—P. Fargesii, Franch.
Tree, to 60 ft.: branchlets usually piloee: lvs. pubescent or
glandular above, slightly pubescent beneath, entire or with few
coarse teeth: fls. lavender or whitish, 2 1/2 in. long; calyx
tomentose outside'- with triangular acutish lobes. W. China.—P.
Fortunei, Hemsl. Tree, to 20 ft. : lvs. sub-coriaceous, densely
tomentose below, ovate or ovate-oblong, to 10 in. long: fls. to 4 in.
long, white, spotted purple inside; calyx 1 in. long, glabrous
outside except the acutish lobes; corolla rather gradually narrowed
toward the baee. S. E. China.—P. Silvestrii, Pampanini & Bonat. Small
tree: lvs. densely brown-woolly, narrow, deeply cordate, 3-5 in.
long: fls. in leafy panicles, sky-blue; calyx densely tomentose, with
oblong obtusish lobes. Cent. China.—P. Thyrsodea, Rehd. Tree, to 20
ft.: branchlcts and petioles piloee: lvs. ovate, usually truncate at
the base, sparingly pubescent, often irregularly and remotely
toothed, 4-6 in. long: fls. with the lvs., lavender, 1 1/2 in. long,
in spike-like racemes forming terminal panicles about 1 ft. long;
calyx tomentose, about 1/2in. long. Cent, and S. E. China.
ALFRED REHDER.
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{{Taxonavigation|
{{Taxonavigation|
Domain|Eukaryota|
Domain|Eukaryota|