CATALPA SPECIOSA Warder. Catalpa. Hardy Catalpa. (× 1/2.)
2. Catalpa speciòsa Warder. Catalpa. Hardy Catalpa. Catalfa. Plate 133. Medium to large sized trees with long and rather straight trunks when grown in the forest; bark dark grayish-brown, fissured and much resembling the bark of a linden or black walnut in appearance; leaves ovate, generally 1.5-3 dm. long, cordate or somewhat rounded at the base, long taper-pointed at apex, margins entire, dark green and smooth above, pubescent beneath; flowering period May or June; flowers in large terminal panicles, white with yellow and purplish spots within, expanded part about 4 cm. across; fruit a long cylindrical pod which matures late in autumn or early winter, 2-5 dm. long, and about 1.5 cm. in diameter, usually 1 or 2 and rarely 3 pods develop in a panicle, the valves of the pod remaining semi-terete after separating; seed many, thin and papery, 2.5-5 cm. long, and 4-8 mm. wide, body of samara about equals in length the tuft of hairs at each end, the hairs remain separated and are little inclined to form a tuft at the end.
Distribution.—Known to have been a native of the southwestern part of Indiana, and to have followed the valley of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to the southeastern part of Missouri and the northeastern part of Arkansas. The tree has practically disappeared from the forests of Indiana, and the exact range in Indiana can never be known. Being such a conspicuous tree, it was thought that the memory of living pioneers might be relied upon to fix the limits of its range in Indiana. One pioneer living near Austin in Scott County said it was a native of the Muscatatuck bottoms, and another said it was a native in the flats of the southwestern part of Clark County. In its native habitat it was found only in very low ground, usually with such associates as pin oak, sweet gum, southern hackberry, big shellbark hickory, pecan, etc. In its native habitat it was an infrequent to a frequent tree, never a common tree. A pioneer was interviewed who settled in the Knox County bottoms about three miles west of Decker, when the whole area was a virgin forest. He said the catalpa was an occasional tree in the bottoms throughout the area; that he did not recall that it was ever found in as low situations as the cypress; that the tree was as tall as its associates, straight, and usually about 6 dm. in diameter, and that he never saw a tree a meter in diameter; that on account of the durable quality of the wood that it was cut for fence posts and rails. A pioneer who lived near the mouth of Deer Creek in Perry County said it was a native in his vicinity. The information at hand would fix the mass distribution of the species to the southwest of a line drawn from Terre Haute to a point about 6 miles east of Grandview in Spencer County.
Remarks.—Attention was directed to this tree about 1880 by Dr. John A. Warder and Dr. Geo. Engelmann, and it has had enthusiastic admirers ever since. In Indiana its most enthusiastic advocate was John P. Brown of Connersville. Its popularity was based upon the durability of its wood and its rapid growth. Nurserymen grew seedlings and through their agents plantations of all sizes were sold in many States. The trees were planted to grow posts, telephone poles and crossties. In Indiana there is one plantation 42 years old, but the majority are only 10 to 15 years old. The tree has been planted long enough in our area to definitely conclude that it should not be planted in any part of Indiana for economic purposes. The range of the catalpa sphinx which defoliates the tree is rapidly increasing, and now ranges as far north as Wells County. In the southern part of the State the trees are usually defoliated twice each year by the larvæ of this insect, and as a consequence the trees make very little growth, and some owners of plantations have abandoned them on this account. A new insect is appearing which kills the young shoots, which will interfere with the upright habit of the tree. The catalpa is not recommended for forest planting in Indiana, and its use for this purpose has practically ceased.
The catalpa prefers a moist, deep, rich soil, but will grow in almost all kinds of situations. In the northern part of the State, the young trees are frequently winter killed. The tree is quite tenacious of life and when cut off at the ground, usually sends up several coppice shoots.
This species can be recommended for planting for shade for hog lots, and as a specimen tree in parks, etc. It is not a desirable street tree.