PAULOWNIACEAE - - Paulownia Family

* Paulownia tomentosa (Thunberg) Siebold & Zuccarini ex Steudel — Royal Paulownia, Princess Tree, Empress Tree

* This species is not native to the United States.

Royal Paulownia, Princess Tree, Empress Tree (Paulownia tomentosa) - Large tree, resembling Catalpa, with flaky bark; Leaves opposite; leaf-blades large, long-petioled, 15—40 cm. long, ovate to suborbicular, cordate, entire or somewhat three-lobed, densely pubescent beneath with stellate hairs; corolla violet-blue, zygomorphic, the throat broad and two-ridged within, the lips slightly spreading; sepals 5, united half their length; calyx 10—15 mm. long; lobes trangular-ovate; corolla 45—55 mm. long; capsule ovoid, acute, loculicidal, 30—40 mm. long; seeds flat, broadly winged.

Habitat:

Roadsides, disturbed areas, roadcuts, forests; native of China. Paulownia is becoming a nuisance, showing an ability to invade pristine woodlands. The very soft wood is highly prized in Asia. The leaves of stump sprouts can reach very large sizes (at least to 80 cm long and wide). The woody capsules are persistent, and the densely tomentose, tan flower buds are conspicuous through the winter.

Habitat information from:
Weakley, Alan S., Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States, Working Draft of 21 May 2015.

The range of Paulownia tomentosa (Royal Paulownia, Princess Tree, Empress Tree)

Kartesz, J.T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. North American Plant Atlas. (http://bonap.net/napa). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)].

The Georgia range of Paulownia tomentosa (Royal Paulownia, Princess Tree, Empress Tree)

Zomlefer, W.B., J.R. Carter, & D.E. Giannasi. 2014 (and ongoing). The Atlas of Georgia Plants. University of Georgia Herbarium (Athens, Georgia) and Valdosta State University Herbarium (Valdosta, Georgia). Available at: http://www.georgiaherbaria.org/.