Paulownia tomentosa

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific range of occurrence across several European regions. In Northern Europe, its presence is noted within Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, the species can be found in Austria and Belgium. It also populates the territories of Czechia-Slovakia. Finally, its distribution extends into Germany.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Paulownia tomentosa is characterized by its specific distribution across varying terrains, primarily thriving within lowland habitats. The species maintains a highly specific altitudinal niche, with its recorded elevational range spanning a consistent level at 1800 m AMSL. This narrow ecological profile is defined by a minimum, mean, and maximum elevation of 1800 m AMSL, indicating a specialized adaptation to these specific environmental parameters within its lowland ecological zone.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Paulownia tomentosa is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a robust presence in its environment. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs at a significant height above the ground on woody stems, a trait categorized under both its general life form and its specific classification as a phanerophyte. Throughout its development, the plant exhibits an evergreen nature, retaining its foliage to facilitate continuous physiological processes.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Paulownia tomentosa is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree. This species is a self-supporting plant that grows in a terrestrial habitat, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of its stature, the plant exhibits significant vertical development, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 10 m to a maximum of 20 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 20.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

20.5 m

Plant height min:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Paulownia tomentosa is characterized by distinct morphological parameters and structural densities that support its rapid growth patterns. The plant exhibits significant leaf variation, with leaf lengths averaging 40 cm, though they can reach a maximum of 25 cm in specific developmental stages, while the leaf width remains consistent at a mean and range of 20 cm. Structurally, the plant maintains a stem specific density (SSD) with a mean value of 312.5 mg/cm³, reflecting its specialized wood composition. Furthermore, in terms of nutrient cycling and metabolic processes, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil nitrogen availability for its physiological development.

Leaf length max:

25 cm

Leaf length mean:

40 cm

Leaf width mean:

20 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

312.5 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Paulownia tomentosa is characterized by a seasonal flowering period that typically begins in April and concludes in May, though the specific timing can be variable throughout the year. During this period, the plant produces inflorescences that can reach a maximum length of 0.5 meters. The resulting fruits vary in size, with a minimum length of 3 cm, a mean length of 3.875 cm, and a maximum length of 4.5 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds are notably lightweight, exhibiting a minimum mass of 0.0001 g, a mean mass of approximately 0.000197 g, and a maximum mass of 0.00034 g. The dispersal syndrome for this species is classified as anemochorous, meaning the seeds are primarily dispersed by the wind. Furthermore, the plant possesses the capacity for asexual reproduction, complementing its sexual reproductive cycle.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

May

Fruit length max:

4.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

3.875 cm

Fruit length min:

3 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.5 m

Reproduction asexual :

present

Seed mass max:

0.00034 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000196933333333333 g

Seed mass min:

1e-04 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Paulownia tomentosa has 1 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Fruit

1. Journal of natural products
2. Pharmaceutical biology
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Paulownia tomentosa has 3 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include EtOAc fraction of a P. tomentosa extract, aqueous extract, leave.

Etoac fraction of a p. tomentosa extract

1. Journal of natural products

Aqueous extract

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Leave

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials