Catapla

Catapla

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Leaves- Opposite or whorled, simple, heart shaped, 6"- 10" long and 6" wide; margin entire or wavy; smooth above, hairy underneath.

Twigs- Stout and yellow- brown; no buds at the end. Side buds small, appear to be hidden in bark. Large, nearly round depressed leaf scars ar characteristic.

Fruit- Bean- like, to 15" long, 1/2" wige, halves separating when ripe, may persist on tips of branches all winter, many seeds, each with long white hairs on both ends. Flowers in July, arranged in terminal clusters about 10" long; each showy flower white with yellow and purple spots, 2" in diameter.

Bark- Light brown, shallowly ridged and scaly.

General Info- A short- trunked, broad crowned tree, to 49', native to southern states, but now widely planted and frequently escaped in the eastern U.S. Usally planted for its shade and flowers, the wood is durable and useful for posts. The nothern catapla, C. specious Warder, with larger flowers and wider pods, has also been planted into the commonwealth.