The odd white FLOWERS, which appear with the very young leaves, are borne in long, loose drooping [panicles]. The petals are very narrow and long, giving the effect of fringe.
The [FRUIT] is a dark blue-purple [drupe], sometimes as much as an inch long, with a [glaucous] [bloom], and borne in loose, drooping [panicles]. It is an excellent deer and bird food.
NORTHERN CATALPA (Western Catalpa)
Catalpa speciosa Warder
Catalpa, often miscalled “catawba”, is found naturalized in eastern Texas and occurs on various qualities of soil, most frequently on rich, moist bottoms. It is a medium-sized tree, rarely exceeding 50 feet in height and 15 inches in diameter. The trunk is usually short and the head broad with spreading branches.
NORTHERN CATALPA (Leaf, one-third natural size; twig and seed, two-thirds natural size; [pod], one-fourth natural size)
The [BARK] varies from dark gray to brown, and is slightly rough, being divided into narrow, shallow strips or flakes.
The LEAVES are [simple], [opposite], cordate-based, long-pointed, 6 to 10 inches long, and softly [pubescent] beneath.
The FLOWERS appear in clusters or [panicles] in April or May, and are 1 to 2 inches long, trumpet-shaped, the wavy and spreading [corolla] irregular, two-lobed, and with a narrow notch on the margin; corolla white with purple and yellow markings.
The [FRUIT] consists of a bean-like [capsule] 8 to 16 inches long and from ⅜ to ½ inch in diameter. It hangs on the tree over winter and gradually splits into two parts, or valves. The seeds are about 1 inch long and terminate in wings that are rounded and short-fringed at the ends.