CATALPA. There are eight or ten species of this flowering tree, two of which are found in the United States and the rest in eastern Asia. The common catalpa is a native of the southern United States and is cultivated as an ornamental tree in most of our northern cities. It is also grown extensively for fence posts and railroad ties, as it is quick-growing and is hardy and thrives in cultivation. The clustered flowers of this species are white, slightly tinged with purple and violet in the throat; the leaves are broad and vivid green in color, covering the tree with dense luxuriant foliage. The flowers are followed by pods, often a foot in length, called Indian cigars by the children. The tree seldom attains a height of more than 40 feet. The other American species is larger, sometimes reaching a height of 120 feet. It is a native of Illinois and the neighboring states and does not thrive in other localities.
Scientific name of common catalpa, Catalpa catalpa. Bark dark gray, broken into small flaky parts. Leaves simple, opposite, and broadly ovate, light green above, downy underneath. Flowers white, mottled with purple inside and spotted with yellow; growing in erect terminal panicles. Fruit, pods 6 to 12 inches long, containing winged seeds.