Help Identify - Unknown Tree

drew_2008

15 years ago

Help Identify

Unknown Tree

I spotted this tree in the neighborhood while walking the dog, and was hoping I could find out what it is. There are several features, that

I'm hoping someone would know what this is. All the pictures were taken 7/26/08 in Southern California (San Fernando Valley). The First photo shows the whole tree.

Although this alone may not tell you what it is, but the Seedpod and seed might. The second photo shows the tons of green seedpods on the tree. The last photo is a closeup

of 3 seedpods (left), and the two light woody pieces found inside the seedpod. I don't know if this woody piece is the actual seed, or the little pieces that flaked off it. There are about

20 of those little pieces in the picture. The woody piece is about the size of a quarter. Does anyone know what the tree is called? Are the little pieces that flaked off the Seeds?

Please let me know what you think. Thank you.

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Comments (6)

pineresin
15 years ago
Paulownia.

Resin
Dibbit
15 years ago
I don't think so, Resin, since the leaves look wrong, too small and almost shiny. And the seed pods look like they are hanging down - Paulownia's stand up.

What else it might be, I dunno....
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kman04
15 years ago
I agree with resin, it's Paulownia. I'm sure growing in the hot sunny desert climate(I know not technically desert, but close enough) of the San Fernando Valley affects leaf size(making them smaller in response to the intense sun) and even the appearance of the leaf surface.

dibbit, if you look at the outer edges of the tree(most easily seen near top right) in the first photo, you'll notice that the seed clusters are indeed standing up, while the ones that appear to be hanging down look to be doing so as a result of their own weight and were not hanging down before.
pineresin
15 years ago
I don't think it is the 'usual' P. tomentosa that most people are familiar with, but one of the other species, perhaps P. kawakamii or P. fargesii. Trouble is, there's not a huge amount of info available on identifying the various species, and the key in the Flora of China needs characters not visible in the pics above.

Resin

Here is a link that might be useful: Flora of China: Paulownia
kman04
15 years ago
I'm not convinced which species it is either, but I think it's most likely Paulownia fargesii, which has flower clusters about twice as long as those of P. tomentosa and smaller leaves and it's cultivated in parts of China just like P. tomentosa. Although, I still think the tree in the photo has smaller leaves in response to it's environment as well.
Embothrium
15 years ago
Even though other species have been sold by forestfarm in Oregon, Colvos Creek near Seattle and other suppliers just about all the different-looking ones up here turn out to be P. tomentosa when checked. There also seems to have been some hybrid specimens grown, at least in California.