Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Lamiales Bromhead
Family
Paulowniaceae Nakai
Genus
Paulownia Siebold & Zucc.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud., Nomencl. Bot., ed. 2, 2, 278 (1841)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Bignonia tomentosa Thunb. in Murray, Syst. Veg., ed. 14 (J. A. Murray) 563,39 (1784)
Vernacular Name(s):
Empress tree; Foxglove tree; hairy paulownia; Kurri; Paulownia; Princess tree; Royal paulownia
 Description

Large spreading tree to c. 15 m high. Lvs with long petioles. Lamina to c. 25 × 20 cm on flowering shoots, ovate, glandular-hairy above, densely glandular-hairy below and with some hairs stellate, at least when young, entire or toothed (usually shallowly 3–5-lobed on young trees); base cordate; apex acute or acuminate. Panicle erect, pyramidal; branches and calyx rusty brown; tomentose; fl. buds produced in the previous summer. Calyx 1.5–2 cm long, campanulate; lobes obtuse. Corolla 5–7 cm long, glandular-hairy outside; tube campanulate-funnelform, sharply bent near base, mauve with white or yellowish throat, sometimes with dark streaks; lobes c. 1.5 cm broad, ± rounded, glandular-ciliate. Capsule 3.5–4.5 cm long including beak, ovoid. Seed fusiform; wing striate.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

 Biostatus
Exotic
 Phenology

Flowering: Oct.–Nov.

 Bibliography
Barton, I.L.; Nicholas, I.D.; Ecroyd, C.E. 2007: Paulownia. Forest Research Bulletin, New Zealand 231: 1–[72].
Edwards, R. 2008: Lincoln University campus – a guide to some of the trees currently growing there. Lincoln University, Lincoln.
Steudel, E.G. 1841: Nomenclator Botanicus. Editio secunda. Vol. 2. typis et sumptibus J.G. Cottae, Stuttgartiae, Tubingae.