Description of Plant

Leaf: Leaves are found 3 at a node and opposite of each other. They are 15-30 cm in length and 10-20 cm in width. The leaves are ovate, long, pointed and have no teeth. They are dull green above and paler on the underside turning blackish in autumn

Flower: Bloom late in spring, in branched clusters 13-20 cm in length. The flowers are white with five unequal rounded fringed lobes.

Fruit: Cigar-like, dark brown and thick walled that splits open into 2 parts. The capsule contains many flat, light brown seeds with 2 papery wings.

Twig: Stout and turns from green to brown and becomes hairless.

Bark: Brownish-gray that becomes furrowed into ridges

Form: The tree grows to height of 50-80 feet with a rounded crown of spreading branches. It has heart shaped leaves, showy flowers, and a long cigar-shaped fruit.

Discussion of Plant

The catalpas nicknames are "cigar tree" and "Indian-bean" because of the distinctive fruit. These trees are planted both as shade trees and ornamental trees. The work catalpa comes from the Native American.

Copyright

© Sue Grabowski, Gail Slowinski, Carl Schurz High School 2003

References

Coombes, Allen, J, Smithsonian Handbook of Trees, Dorling Kindersley, London, 2002.

Little, Elbert, L., Field Guide to Trees, Alfred A. Knopf, New York. 1980.

Symonds, George, W.D., The Tree Identification Book, Quill Publishing, New York, N.Y. 1958.