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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.
+}}
+
{{Taxonavigation|
{{Taxonavigation|
Domain|Eukaryota|
Domain|Eukaryota|