CATALPA; INDIAN BEAN (Catalpa Catalpa, Karst). Low spreading tree, N to 50 feet high, with broad, irregular head of coarse twigs. Bark light brown, reddish, smooth. Wood coarse-grained, soft, light brown, durable in contact with the ground. Buds all lateral, above circular leaf scar, minute, globular; inner scales grow to t inches long. Leaves bright green, opposite or in S's 6 to 8 inches long, half as wide, ovate, entire, or sometimes lobed and wavy margined, pu bescent beneath; of unpleasant odor; petioles stout, long, terete. Flowers, June or July, perfect, large, white, irregular,
the frilled corolla marked with two yellow stripes and numer ous purplish dots; pedicels downy; panicles loose, 6 to 10 inches long. Fruit a green, cylindrical pod, 6 to N inches long, 2-valved, filled with flat, tufted seeds. Preferred hab itat, rich soil of river banks or shady woods. Dist.: Georgia and Florida to Mississippi, but naturalized in many other states. Uses: A hardy ornamental tree.