What Does Catalpa Mean?

The name Catalpa is derived from the name that a Native American tribe gave these trees, "Catawba". The tribe was also called by the same name. The Catawba Native Americans belonged to one of the Siouan tribes inhabiting the eastern United States.

The name Catalpa belongs to a species of flowering trees which are deciduous. The name of the species should have originally been the same as the tribe had christened it. However a mistake on the part of the botanist "Scopoli" describing the species led to the species being recorded as Catalpa.

The tree generally has large leaves and has papery white flowers dabbed with yellow. It also has bean shaped pods which are its seeds. The presence of these pods has given it its other names of Cigar Tree and Indian Bean Tree.

Add Comment

Report