Catalpa bignonioides

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Distribution Map: Based on vouchered plant specimens only. View county names by placing the mouse cursor over a particular county.

Species Distribution Map
Family:BIGNONIACEAE
Species:Catalpa bignonioides Walter
Common Name:Southern Catalpa; Cigar Tree; Caterpillar Tree
Habitat:Stream banks, bottomland forests, and fence rows.
Associated Ecological Communities:**
Growth Habit:Tree
Duration:Perennial
Category:Vascular
USDA Symbol:CABI8
Plant Notes:Southern Catalpa is a fast growing but short lived native deciduous tree. It can be found throughout the state. In the wild it is primarily found on creek banks and floodplains. However it has been widely cultivated and can now be found in many different habitats. It tolerates a wide range of soil conditions from wet to dry nutrient poor soils. Southern Catalpa is a fast growing, but often crooked tree reaching heights of 60 feet. The bark is brown or gray in color and broken into thin plates. White lenticels are prominent on young twigs. The leaves are primarily opposite, but whorled leaves are not un-common. The long petiolate leaves are cordate in outline with entire margins. The leaves have small glands between the veins that secrete nectar. This attracts ants which help to remove insects feeding on the leaves. Flowers are produced in panicles at the tips of the branches. The trumpet shaped flowers are white in color with gold lines and purple spots within the throat. These spots and lines act as bee guides, directing pollinators to the interior of the flower. The fruit is a long cylindrical capsule that splits to release many flat, winged seed. Southern Catalpa wood is very rot resistant, and it is often used for fence post and railroad ties. The small size of the tree and its crooked growth form limits its use for other purposes. Southern Catalpa is often cultivated for “catalpa worms” which are prized fish bait. The “worms” are the caterpillars of the Catalpa Sphinx Moth (Ceratomia catalpae). Another common name for this plant is “cigar tree” or “Indian cigar”. Children once collected and smoked the fruit for their mild narcotic effect. Many Southerners call these trees “catawba”, which was the original name given to them by the Catawba tribe of North and South Carolina. The mistake in the scientific name is due to a transcription error during the description of the genus. Southern Catalpa is available from nurseries, including several forms.--A. Diamond
Taxonomic Notes:**
Status:Native, FAC- (NWI)
References:**
Specimen: View specimen details in the Alabama Herbarium Consortium Specimen Database

** Not applicable or data not available.

Classification

FamilyBIGNONIACEAE - Trumpet-Creeper/Bignonia family
Genus Catalpa
Species Catalpa bignonioides Walter - Southern Catalpa; Cigar Tree; Caterpillar Tree

Citation

Citation Catalpa bignonioides Walter, Fl. Carol. 64. 1788.
Basionym: **
Type: USA: SOUTH CAROLINA: Lexington Co.: Leesville, 30 May 1997, Nelson 18315 (neotype: GH; isoneotype: USCH). Neotypified by D. B. Ward, J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas 1: 1098. 2007.

** Not applicable or data not available.

Synonyms

SynonymFull CitationBasionymType
Bignonia catalpa Bignonia catalpa Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 622. 1753. SOUTH CAROLINA: Without data (lectotype: Catesby, Nat. Hist. Carolina 1: t. 49. 1730). Lectotypified by Reveal, Bartonia 56: 17. 1990.
Catalpa arborea Catalpa arborea Payer, in Payer & Baillon, Lecons Fam. Nat. 214. 1862.  
Catalpa bignonioides var. aurea Catalpa bignonioides Walter, var. aurea Bureau, Nouv. Arch. Mus. Hist. Nat., ser. 3. 6: 183. 1894.  
Catalpa bignonioides var. koehnei Catalpa bignonioides Walter, var. koehnei (Hesse) Hesse ex Dode, Bull. Soc. Dendrol. France 1907: 206. 1907.Catalpa syringifolia Sims, var. koehnei Hesse 1903. 
Catalpa bignonioides var. nana Catalpa bignonioides Walter, var. nana Bureau, Nouv. Arch. Mus. Hist. Nat., ser. 3. 6: 183. 1894.  
Catalpa communis Catalpa communis Dumont du Courset, Bot. Cult. 2: 189. 1802.  
Catalpa cordifolia Catalpa cordifolia Moench, Methodus 464. 1794.Bignonia catalpa Linnaeus 1753. 
Catalpa syringifolia Catalpa syringifolia Sims, Bot. Mag. 27: t. 1094. 1806.  
Catalpa syringifolia var. koehnei Catalpa syringifolia Sims, var. koehnei Hesse, Gartenflora 52: 47. 1903.  
Catalpa ternifolia Catalpa ternifolia Cavanilles, Descr. Pl. 26. 1802, nom. illegit.Catalpa cordifolia Moench 1794; Bignonia catalpa Linnaeus 1753. 
Catalpa umbraculifera Catalpa umbraculifera Ugolini, Bull. Soc. Tosc. Ortic. 13: 330. 1888.  
Catalpium amena Catalpium amena Rafinesque, Fl. Ludov. 139. 1817, nom. illegit.Catalpa cordifolia Moench 1794; Bignonia catalpa Linnaeus 1753. 
Catalpa catalpa Catalpa catalpa (Linnaeus) H. Karsten, Deut. Fl. 277. 1882, nom. inadmiss.Bignonia catalpa Linnaeus 1753. 

Specimens and Distribution

This species has been reported in the following counties by the herbaria listed. An overview of the individual specimens are provided in the table that follows. Click on the accession number to view details; click on column headers to sort; choose a county or herbaria to filter the specimen data.

Counties included on distribution map: Autauga, Baldwin, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Butler, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Choctaw, Clay, Cleburne, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dale, Dallas, DeKalb, Elmore, Escambia, Etowah, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lee, Limestone, Macon, Madison, Marengo, Marshall, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Pike, Randolph, Shelby, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Wilcox

Counties represented by specimen data listed below:

Herbaria represented by specimen data listed below: ALNHS, AMAL, AUA, JSU, NY, SAMF, TROY, UNA, USAM, UWAL

Range of years during which specimens were collected: 1966 - 2023

Barcode / Accession No. County Coll. Date Collector &
Collection No.		 Herbarium &
Herbarium Name Used		 Image
USAM000003025 Mobile 08 May 1973 LeLong, Michel G.
6932		 USAM
Catalpa bignioides Walt.
UNA00042928 Lee 21 Jun 1980 Davenport, Lawrence J.
1974		 UNA
Catalpa bignonioides Walt.
JSU114305 Choctaw 13 Sep 1997 Higginbotham, Jerri W.
274		 JSU
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
AUA_ACC_15048 Lee 16 May 1969 Seay, J.R.
131		 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
AMAL00021451 Calhoun 23 Sep 2014 Spaulding, Daniel D.
14168		 AMAL
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
AUA_ACC_17731 Conecuh 10 Aug 1969 Weaver, Jimmy
220		 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
AUA_ACC_41378 Bullock 12 May 1973 Guyse, Keith D.
172		 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
UWAL0035015 Morgan 10 Jun 2017 England, J. Kevin
8006		 UWAL
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
SAMF0005019 Jefferson 17 Jul 1948 Hill, W.
s.n.		 SAMF
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
AUA_ACC_32923 Macon 9 May 1976 Sessler, Ann H.
52		 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
AUA_ACC_4248 Elmore 20 May 1964 Creel, John
 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
UNA00072271 Calhoun 23 Sep 2014 Spaulding, Daniel D.
14168		 UNA
Catalpa bignonioides Walt.
JSU114308 Jackson 18 Sep 1998 Brodeur, Kristin R.
1414		 JSU
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
UNA00042932 Tuscaloosa 8 May 1967 Bolin, B.
s.n.		 UNA
Catalpa bignonioides Walt.
AUA000038388 Morgan 10 Jun 2017 England, J. Kevin
8006		 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
JSU114304 Clay 3 Jun 1994 Ballard, J. Mark
4823		 JSU
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
TROY000016902 Etowah 20 Sep 1987 Alford, Erick
145		 TROY
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
AMAL00012037 Macon 09 Jul 1986 Crockett, Veronica
026		 AMAL
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
UNA00058445 Blount 24 May 1998 Keener, Brian R.
833		 UNA
Catalpa bignonioides Walt.
AUA_ACC_43309 Conecuh 24 May 1985 Diamond, Alvin R.
717		 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
AUA000032693 Covington 14 Sep 2010 Hansen, Curtis J.
4891		 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
AUA_ACC_15049 Lee 21 May 1969 Hall, William G.
175		 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
ALNHS00000404 Dallas 24 May 2010 Barger, T. Wayne
OC-183		 ALNHS
Catalpa bignonioides Walt.
JSU114298 Calhoun 23 Jun 1985 Boozer, B.
006		 JSU
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
UWAL0010759 Conecuh 28 Apr 2012 Diamond, Alvin R.
22986		 UWAL
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
SAMF0005024 Jefferson 14 May 2001 von Herrmann, Paul F.
28		 SAMF
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
AUA_ACC_46949 Henry 7 May 1978 Lamb, Trip
123		 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
TROY000034760 Conecuh 28 Apr 2012 Diamond, Alvin R.
22986		 TROY
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
JSU114318 Shelby 2 Oct 1983 Lowe, E.M.
s.n.		 JSU
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
UNA00042931 Hale 22 May 1966 Maginness, Sherrie E.
s.n.		 UNA
Catalpa bignonioides Walt.
UNA00042930 Wilcox 26 May 1978 Haynes, Robert R.
6525		 UNA
Catalpa bignonioides Walt.
AUA_ACC_18807 Lee 7 May 1970 Montgomery, John
144		 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
TROY000003216 Dale 03 May 1997 Irwin, Lee Ann
6		 TROY
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
USAM000003027 Mobile 28 Apr 1967 LeLong, Michel G.
3097		 USAM
Catalpa bignioides Walt.
AUA_ACC_35792 Lee 6 Oct 1972 Bowers, John R.
127		 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
TROY000003218 Pike 07 Nov 2000 Precise, Robert
2		 TROY
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
USAM000003024 Mobile 16 May 1969 Hill, Kleo
11		 USAM
Catalpa bignioides Walt.
AUA_ACC_58173 Tallapoosa 2 May 1998 Tyler, Patricia J.
TYLER 214		 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
ALNHS00003613 Houston 27 May 2015 Barger, T. Wayne
DTP-141		 ALNHS
Catalpa bignonioides Walt.
JSU114310 Lee 29 Jun 1978 Kral, Robert
62203		 JSU
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
UWAL0007896 Sumter 23 May 1984 Green
22		 UWAL
Catalpa bignonioides Walt.
AUA_ACC_4291 Lee 15 May 1949 Cunningham, Hugh B.
 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
TROY000035089 Bullock 26 Apr 2012 Dykes, Bailee
615		 TROY
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
JSU114302 Calhoun 27 May 1982 Whetstone, R. David
11167		 JSU
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
UWAL0036973 Lawrence 17 May 2017 England, J. Kevin
7782		 UWAL
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
AUA_ACC_9456 Lee 4 May 1960 Jones, Jr., Samuel B.
527		 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
UWAL0038900 Covington 14 Sep 2010 Hansen, Curtis J.
4891		 UWAL
Catalpa bigninioides Walt.
JSU114320 Tallapoosa 12 Oct 1985 Moore, C.M.
046		 JSU
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
TROY000003220 Pike 30 May 1996 Holmes, Jeanese
188		 TROY
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
AUA_ACC_18839 Macon 16 May 1970 Beniwal, S.P.
 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
TROY000003215 Dale 12 Jul 1999 Prazinko, Brian F.
s.n.		 TROY
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
SAMF0005020 Blount 03 Jun 2005 Davenport, Lawrence J.
3205		 SAMF
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
AUA_ACC_5253 Monroe 5 May 1967 Newman, Gary
 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
UNA00055988 Covington 24 Jun 1998 MacDonald, John R.
11476		 UNA
Catalpa bignonioides Walt.
JSU114309 Lee 8 Aug 1988 Johnson, Stephen C.
s.n.		 JSU
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
UWAL0011050 Bullock 26 Apr 2012 Dykes, Bailee
615		 UWAL
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
TROY000016901 Blount 24 May 1998 Keener, Brian R.
833		 TROY
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
JSU114314 Monroe 12 Sep 1997 Whetstone, R. David
18589		 JSU
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
NY02584104 Hale 04 Aug 1980 Robert R. Haynes
8058		 NY
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
SAMF0005023 Cleburne 22 Jun 2002 Hataway, Drew
20		 SAMF
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
UWAL0007895 Butler 16 Aug 2007 Diamond, Alvin R.
17920		 UWAL
Catalpa bignonioides Walt.
TROY000003214 Dale 03 May 2000 Pennington, Tiffany
618		 TROY
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
AUA_ACC_49323 Pike 18 May 1988 Diamond, Alvin R.
4799		 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
TROY000035579 Montgomery 07 Sep 2012 Diamond, Alvin R.
23306		 TROY
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
UWAL0035878 Blount 14 Jun 2013 Anderson, Kelly
272		 UWAL
Catalpa bignonioides Walt.
JSU114307 DeKalb 6 Jul 1969 Millican, Linda
s.n.		 JSU
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
TROY000003211 Coffee 26 Aug 2006 Hendrix, Jake
22		 TROY
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
AUA_ACC_11628 Houston 7 May 1967 Barrick, William E.
 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
TROY000003217 Escambia 05 May 1995 Brittain, Cynthia L.
155		 TROY
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
AUA_ACC_52040 Dale 24 May 1992 Diamond, Alvin R.
8267		 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
UWAL0031135 Calhoun 23 Sep 2014 Spaulding, Daniel D.
14168		 UWAL
Catalpa bignonioides Walt.
USAM000003026 Mobile 16 Oct 1978 Cook, Paul R. III
s.n.		 USAM
Catalpa bignioides Walt.
AUA000031086 Lee 6 May 2010 Hansen, Curtis J.
4640		 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
TROY000003209 Barbour 03 Sep 2000 Diamond, Alvin R.
12075		 TROY
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
JSU114315 Monroe 12 Sep 1997 Whetstone, R. David
18587		 JSU
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
NY02584060 Etowah 09 Jul 1898 Heinrich K. D. Eggert
s.n.		 NY
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
SAMF0005022 Cullman 08 May 1965 Myers, Martha Crystal
s.n.		 SAMF
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
AUA_ACC_58347 Bibb 10 Jul 1999 Smith, S.T.
 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
TROY000038687 Marengo 19 Jul 2012 England, J. Kevin
3700		 TROY
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
JSU114319 Talladega 2 Sep 1983 Whetstone, R. David
13610		 JSU
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
TROY000003210 Butler 07 Jul 2001 Diamond, Alvin R.
12490		 TROY
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
JSU114306 Etowah 27 May 1994 Hodge, Lesley M.
1307		 JSU
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
UNA00042929 Tallapoosa 21 Jun 1980 Davenport, Lawrence J.
1980		 UNA
Catalpa bignonioides Walt.
JSU114312 Marshall 12 Jun 1992 Spaulding, Daniel D.
2025		 JSU
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
UWAL0052848 Bibb 28 Jul 2019 Keener, Brian R.
11509		 UWAL
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
AUA_ACC_60423 Crenshaw 24 Aug 1997 Diamond, Alvin R.
11086		 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
AUA000032694 Covington 14 Sep 2010 Hansen, Curtis J.
4891		 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
AUA_ACC_41113 Cherokee 5 May 1972 Hale, A.R.
128		 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
UNA00048681 Hale 04 Aug 1980 Haynes, Robert R.
8058		 UNA
Catalpa bignonioides Walt.
JSU114297 Calhoun 23 Jun 1985 Boozer, B.
006		 JSU
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
AUA_ACC_67652 Montgomery 9 Apr 2007 Shepherd, J.J.
1-16		 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
SAMF0005021 Greene 28 Jul 2012 Davenport, Lawrence J.
5285		 SAMF
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
AUA_ACC_17730 Lee 14 Jul 1969 Ellis, H.C.
52		 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
UWAL0056810 Fayette 21 Jun 2023 England, Kevin J.
13779		 UWAL
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
JSU114299 Calhoun 11 Jul 1986 Lawler, Carol L.
736		 JSU
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
UNA00022748 Greene 08 Jun 1993 Haynes, Chris G.
s.n.		 UNA
Catalpa bignonioides Walt.
TROY000003213 Coffee 21 Apr 2000 Martin, Brian H.
605		 TROY
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
UWAL0010552 Marengo 19 Jul 2012 England, J. Kevin
3700		 UWAL
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
JSU114317 Randolph 5 Jul 1969 Herren, Tommy
s.n.		 JSU
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
AUA_ACC_22583 Lee 7 Nov 1971 Hudson, Mary
210		 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
JSU114311 Madison 29 Jun 1969 Tudor, Jessica
s.n.		 JSU
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
AUA_ACC_4292 Lee 20 May 1949 Walters, R.E.
 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
TROY000003212 Coffee 08 May 1991 Turner, Tammy
17		 TROY
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
JSU114313 Marshall 30 Jul 1992 Spaulding, Daniel D.
2454		 JSU
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
UWAL0034374 Autauga 12 Jul 1995 Kral, Robert
85192		 UWAL
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
SAMF0005018 Jefferson ?? Jul 1948 Hall
s.n.		 SAMF
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
AUA_ACC_15047 Chambers 9 May 1969 Gregory, J.M.
32		 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
AUA_ACC_38310 Henry 20 May 1972 Cox, J.E.
155		 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
UWAL0034721 Limestone 19 May 1995 Kral, Robert
84731		 UWAL
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
SAMF0005016 Jefferson 18 May 1953 Kennedy, C.
s.n.		 SAMF
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
UWAL0042903 Baldwin 29 Aug 2001 Larsen, Harry S.
943		 UWAL
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
TROY000003219 Pike 20 Apr 1991 Birks, J.
22		 TROY
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
AUA_ACC_21167 Lee 12 May 1969 Moore, Harold D.
209-69		 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
JSU114303 Calhoun 1 May 1967 Harris, N.D.
s.n.		 JSU
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
AUA_ACC_8220 Lee 10 May 1959 Brady, Jr., V.E.
 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
JSU114316 Randolph 2 Aug 1986 Nixon, Christopher F.
2557		 JSU
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
AUA_ACC_4290 Lee 15 May 1953 Walsh, C.S.
 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
TROY000016720 Butler 16 Aug 2007 Diamond, Alvin R.
17920		 TROY
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
JSU114301 Calhoun 28 Oct 1992 Spaulding, Daniel D.
3052		 JSU
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
UWAL0044784 Jackson 02 Jun 2018 England, J. Kevin
9218		 UWAL
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
AUA_ACC_8876 Chambers 7 May 1965 Gamble, Tom
116		 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
TROY000033830 Houston 08 Oct 2011 Senn, Whitney
91		 TROY
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
AUA_ACC_30330 DeKalb 17 May 1969 Chitwood, John C.
 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
UWAL0042904 Baldwin 16 Jun 2001 Larsen, Harry S.
676		 UWAL
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
SAMF0005015 Jefferson 07 Jul 1948 Pannell, E.J.
s.n.		 SAMF
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
AUA_ACC_41377 Pike 13 May 1973 King, B.L.
112		 AUA
Catalpa Bignonioides Walt.
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