I have found a catalpa in Belleville, Ontario that I have no idea about. Assumed it was southern Catalpa (C. bignonioides) because most in the area are Nothern Catalpa (C. speciosa). The tree is small and quite different from Northern. Leaves (many) have three distinct lobes with sharp points, flowers are two weeks later than northern, yellow and tiny (maybe 1/4 size of northern), fruit pods are pencil thin and straight. Seeds are tiny with a pointy end below the fringe. I would have said this was a southern (simply because we are in North America) except for the leaves and the tiny yellow flowers. Does anybody have experience with this genus or know of a good web source I can look at? I am wondering if this is one of the Asiatic species.
Well a quick look on the internet would indicate that this is the likely species. I have never heard of, or seen one in Canada (well anywhere actually)
USDA show it as naturalised in several states immediately south of the border, not too far away: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CAOV5 so I'd not be at all surprised if it was also in southern Ontario
Entirely yellow (see key at online NOS CATALPA PAGE) C. ovata 'Flavescens' flowering here now. There is one in a yard up my way, otherwise public land in Seattle has multiple specimens.
