Catalpa speciosa

Catapla speciosa fruit

Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa) is our only escaped tree with whorled buds. The rounded leaf-scars distinguish this from the occasional maple or ash twig that is whorled. A second Catalpa species (Catalpa bignonioides) is planted in Michigan, but has not been documented as escaping. The seeds are the best way to distinguish the two species in the winter. C. bignonioides has pointed fringes at the ends of the seeds and in C. speciosa the fringes are rounded and wide.

Copyright 2013 by Donald Drife

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