Editing Catalpa (section)

==Description==
Most ''Catalpa'' are [[deciduous]] trees; they typically grow to {{convert|12|-|18|m|ft|-1}} tall, with branches spreading to a diameter of about {{convert|6|-|12|m|ft|-1}}.  They are fast growers and a 10-year-old sapling may stand about {{convert|6|m|ft}} tall. They have characteristic large, heart-shaped leaves, which in some species are three-lobed. The appearance of the leaves sometimes causes confusion with species such as the unrelated tung tree (''[[Vernicia fordii]]'') and ''[[Paulownia tomentosa]]''. ''Catalpa'' species bear broad [[panicle]]s of showy flowers, generally in summer. The flower colour generally is white to yellow. In late summer or autumn the fruit appear; they are [[silique]]s about {{convert|20|-|50|cm|in|0}} long, full of small flat seeds, each with two thin wings to aid in wind dispersal.

The large leaves and dense foliage of ''Catalpa'' species provide good shelter from rain and wind, making the trees an attractive habitat for many species of birds. They do not present many threats of falling limbs, but the dark-brown fruit husks that they drop in late summer may be a nuisance.

Though ''Catalpa'' wood is quite soft, it is popular for turning and for furniture when well seasoned, being attractive, stable and easy to work.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www-pub.naz.edu:9000/~treewalk/catalpa/catalpa.htm |first=Kristi |last=Maroni |author2=Sarah Domville |title=Catalpa Tree |work=Tree Walk |publisher=[[Nazareth College (New York)|Nazareth College of Rochester]] |date=2003-12-04 |access-date=2009-04-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210151800/http://www-pub.naz.edu:9000/~treewalk/catalpa/catalpa.htm |archive-date=2008-12-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Most catalpas begin flowering after roughly three years, and produce fruit after about five years.{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}