Catalpa speciosa

Catalpa speciosa, commonly known as the Northern Catalpa, is a striking deciduous tree celebrated for its massive, heart-shaped leaves and fragrant, bell-shaped white flowers. While primarily ornamental in landscaping, its unique botanical characteristics and robust presence make it a fascinating subject for studying diverse North American woodland ecosystems.

  • Scientific name: Catalpa speciosa
  • Family: Bignoniaceae
  • Native range: Europe

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is placed in the order Lamiales and the family Bignoniaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Catalpa.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Lamiales WCVP
Family Bignoniaceae WCVP
Genus Catalpa WCVP

Common Names

This plant, known scientifically as Catalpa speciosa, is recognized by several common names across different Chinese linguistic regions. In Simplified Chinese, it is referred to as 黄金树 (zh-hans) and 黄金树 (zh-cn), which is also the standard designation used in Singapore (zh-sg). In Traditional Chinese contexts, it is known as 黃金樹 (zh-hant) and is also identified by the same name in Hong Kong (zh-hk).
Language Common Name Source
zh-hans 黄金树 Wikidata
zh-hant 黃金樹 Wikidata
zh-hk 黃金樹 Wikidata
zh-cn 黄金树 Wikidata
zh-sg 黄金树 Wikidata
zh-tw 黃金樹 Wikidata
de Prächtiger Trompetenbaum Wikidata
pl Surmia wielkokwiatowa Wikidata
fr Catalpa à feuilles cordées Wikidata
hsb Pyšny trubownik Wikidata

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution that spans across multiple continents. In Southeastern Europe, its presence is noted in both Bulgaria and Romania. Moving across the globe to Eastern Asia, the species can be found in Korea. Within North America, it is established in the Northwestern United States, specifically in Colorado. Additionally, the plant is located in the North-Central United States, including the state of Illinois.

Region Area Source
Southeastern Europe Bulgaria WCVP
Southeastern Europe Romania WCVP
Eastern Asia Korea WCVP
Northwestern U.S.A. Colorado WCVP
North-Central U.S.A. Illinois WCVP
North-Central U.S.A. Iowa WCVP
North-Central U.S.A. Kansas WCVP
North-Central U.S.A. Minnesota WCVP
North-Central U.S.A. Missouri WCVP
North-Central U.S.A. North Dakota WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, commonly known as the Northern Catalpa, is a large deciduous tree where various components have historically been noted for their unique properties. While the tree is primarily admired for its showy white flowers and large, heart-shaped leaves, the tree bark holds specific significance in botanical studies. The bark, which covers the trunk and branches, serves as a protective layer for the tree's vascular system and has been examined in various traditional contexts for its chemical constituents.
Total parts
1
Scientific sources
1
Plant Part Sources Confidence
Tree bark 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Chemicals

Catalpa speciosa has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include catechin, ferulic acid.

Total chemicals
2
Scientific sources
2

Most Reported Compounds

Compound Sources Confidence
catechin 1 ★☆☆☆☆
ferulic acid 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Activities

Catalpa speciosa has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Total activities
1
Scientific sources
1

Most Reported Activities

Activity Sources Confidence
Antioxidant 1 ★☆☆☆☆