You have identified:

Common Catalpa
(Catalpa bignonioides)

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General Information: Common catalpa is a tall tree (up to 45' to 60') found in the eastern United States and along the Gulf Coast.  It is often found growing in wastelands and along streets.  The bark of this tree's trunk is scaly.

Catalpa leaves are large, 6" to 13" long and up to 7" wide.  They are simple, heart-shaped with an abruptly acuminate tip, an entire margin, and often have purple spots.  The leaves are oppositely arranged or in whorls of three.  They are hairy beneath and produce an offensive odor when crushed or bruised.

Flowers of the common catalpa are formed from May to July.  They are white, approximately one inch wide, and are marked with purple and yellow spots.  They are shaped like a thimble with wavy edges, but are organized in large terminal clusters.

The characteristic catalpa capsules or pods which are long and cylindrical are formed from September through winter.  Each fruit contains numerous flat seeds, each with two wings.

• Medicinal Significance
• Economic Uses

 

Petrides, G.A.  1986.  Peterson Field Guides: Trees and Shrubs.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Rhoads, A.F. and Block, T.A.  2000. The Plants of Pennsylvania: An Illustrated Manual.  Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.