Paulownia kawakamii (Dragon Tree, Empress Tree
Paulownia kawakamii (Dragon Tree, Empress Tree
Common Names in English:
Dragon Tree, Empress Tree
Description
Family Scrophulariaceae
Herbs, sometimes shrubs , rarely trees ; mostly
autotrophic, less often hemiparasitic or parasitic.
Stipules absent. Leaves
alternate,
opposite, whorled , or basally opposite and
apically alternate, simple or sometimes pinnately dissected .
Inflorescences racemes ,
spikes, or thyrsoid
panicles,
determinate or
indeterminate, or
flowers solitary. Flowers perfect , usually
zygomorphic, rarely actinomorphic . Calyx often persistent , (2-) 4- or 5-lobed or -parted, variously connate . Corolla sympetalous ;
limb (3 or) 4- or 5-lobed, often 2-lipped.
Stamens mostly 4, didynamous , sometimes 1 or 2
staminodes present, less often 2 or 5 stamens; anther
locules 1 or 2, equal or subequal , free or confluent . Nectary often present at base of
ovary, ringlike,
cupular, or reduced to a gland . Ovary superior, 2-loculed, rarely apically 1-loculed;
ovules numerous , rarely 2 per locule, on axile placentas, anatropous or hemitropous . Style simple; stigma
capitate, 2-lobed, or 2-lamellate.
Fruit a
capsule, septicidal ,
loculicidal, or
septifragal, sometimes opening by pores or irregularly dehiscent , rarely a
berry. Seeds minute or rarely conspicuous , sometimes winged ;
testa often reticulate ; hilum lateral or ventral ;
endosperm fleshy or absent; embryo straight or curved .
About 220
genera and 4500
species: cosmopolitan ; 61 genera (seven
endemic) and 681 species (415 endemic) throughout China but with a greater concentration in SW China.
1
Genus Paulownia
Trees ,
deciduous, evergreen in tropics. Bark smooth with conspicuous lenticels when young, longitudinally splitting with age. Branches
opposite, without terminal buds. Leaves opposite, occasionally 3 in a
whorl; petiole long; leaf blade entire or shallowly 3-5-lobed, margin undulate and often
serrate when young.
Inflorescences a large pyramidal to cylindric thyrse .
Cymes (1-) 3-5(-8) -flowered, pedunculate or not. Calyx campanulate or obconical , hairy ; lobes 5, subequal , upper 1 enlarged. Corolla purple or white, funnelform-campanulate to tubular-funnelform; tube base constricted and slightly curved ;
limb 2-lipped; lower
lip elongated and 3-lobed; upper lip yellow, 2-lobed.
Stamens 4, didynamous ; filaments included , twisted near base; anthers
divergent.
Ovary 2-loculed. Style nearly as long as stamens.
Capsule loculicidal, 2-valved or incompletely 4-valved;
pericarp thin or thick and woody. Seeds small, numerous ,
membranous winged ;
endosperm sparse.
Seven
species: mostly in China with one species extending to Laos and Vietnam; six species in China.
Because of the extensive cultivation of most species, it is often difficult to determine the precise wild
distribution.
2
Physical Description
Habit: Deciduous.
Flowers: Bloom Period: March. •
Flower Color: lavender, violet
Size/Age/Growth
Size: 30-40' tall.
Habitat
Ecology: Mixed evergreen forest . (Ref. 85466
Biology
Growth
Culture: Space 15-20' apart.
Soil: Minimum pH: 5.6 •
Maximum pH: 6.5
Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Full Sun .
Moisture: Drought Tolerance: High
Temperature: Cold Hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b. (
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