Catalpa fargesii

The tree can grow up to tall. It has a petiole (leaf-stems) which are long. They are long and wide. They have a soft, downy underside, which does fade at the end of the growing season. It blooms in summer, The flowers are similar in form to those of paulownia. The corolla is bell-shaped, two-lipped flowers are borne in corymbs or racemes, of between 7 and 15 individual flowers. They are long. They come in shades from lilac, pinkish, or pale red to pale purple. The throat is freckled with purple, brownish red, or brownish spots, on a background of yellow staining. It has small anthers and a 2-lobed stigma. After it flowers, it produces seeds between June and November. The long and very slender, seed capsule or seed-pod is long. Inside are linear and thin membranous seeds, they have hairs at both ends. ==Taxonomy==

It is written in Chinese script as 灰楸 hui qiu ==Distribution and habitat==

Catalpa fargesii is native to the temperate region of Asia. Mostly in China.), Shandong, Sichuan and Yunnan. Habitat It is found in the forests, along roadsides and on slopes, at an altitude of above sea level. ==Cultivation==

Like many of the species in the Catalpa genus, C. fargesii will thrive in full or part sun, poor or fertile soil and will grow across most climate zones. It would do well across southern Australia, all of the UK and in North America. ==References==

• Govaerts, R. (1999). World Checklist of Seed Plants 3(1, 2a & 2b): 1–1532. MIM, Deurne. • Zhang, Z. & Thawatchai, S. (1998). Bignoniaceae Flora of China 18: 213–225. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis.