From the Catawba Native American name catawba for these trees (the tribal totem), with the spelling catalpa being due to a transcription error on the part of the describing botanist (Scopoli)
"Northern" catalpa, also called western catalpa, is native to the American midwest.
Identification: Trees are 49-98′ (15-30 m) tall and about
39′ (12 m) around. Bark is brown or gray-brown, furrowed, eventually forming rough, scaly plates, sometimes
with upturned, peeling edges. Leaves are heart-shaped (rarely with a point on each side), 8-12″ (20-30 cm) × 6-8″ (15-20 cm), with pointed tips. They are opposite, or in whorls of three. Large showy flowers are white, five-petaled, with yellow and purple
spots on their interiors. They appear in clusters 8-12″ (20-30 cm) long. Fruits are equally showy,
resembling long, somewhat curved string beans 10-18″ (25-45 cm) in length. Each fruit is ¼-½″ (6.3-12 mm)
in diameter, and green, maturing to brown, persisting through the winter.
Flowers of Catalpa speciosa, from the Arboretum of Rendeux, Rendeux, Belgium. By Jean-Pol Grandmont.
7/2/2010 · Mt Vernon Trail, along Potomac River ID is uncertain
6/22/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Massachusetts
6/22/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Massachusetts
8/16/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts
The catalpa along the Potomac river is festooned with riverbank grapevines (Vitis riparia). · 7/2/2010 · Mt Vernon Trail, along Potomac River ID is uncertain
6/22/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Massachusetts
7/2/2010 · Mt Vernon Trail, along Potomac River ID is uncertain