CATALPA (Amer. 'Indian). A genus of trees of the order Bignonia•ele. Catalpa big honioides is a native of the southern portion of the United States, and is cultivated there and in the cities of the Northern States as an orna mental shade-tree. It may he known by the silver -gray bark, wide-spreading but few branches. and large. pale-•reen, heart-shaped leaves. The flowers are white, tinged with violet or purple. and dotted with the same colors. They are succeeded by long. bean-like pods. that sometimes hang on the otherwise bare limbs all winter. The seeds are winpv(1. the wings cut into a fringe. The wood is light and of fine texture, and useful in cabinet-work. ( For illus trations see Plate of CALAnsslt. ETC.) A second species, Catalpa sperioso. is a larger and more hardy tree. indig•nous in the United States from Indiana to Tennessee. and west through
Arkansas and Missouri. It is readily distin guished from the former species by its thicker bark. and the flowers being very ineonspi•uously tinged or spotted. In rich lowlands this tree makes a very rapid growth, and it has been very sueeessfull• planted in Kansas and Okla homa for its timber, the wood being valuable for railroad ties, posts. etc. In favored locali ties it is hardy in Minnesota. Other species are known from Japan and China.
The catalpa is subject to a leaf-spot disease, caused by Phyllosticta catalpa'. that sometimes causes the leaves to become brown and ragged, and. a' the disease progresses. brings about the partial t he tree-. if a severe attack i. anticipated. it may be \yarded off by spraying the tree, with any standard fungicide.