catalpa

American  

[kuh-tal-puh] / kəˈtæl pə /

noun

1. any of several trees constituting the genus Catalpa, of the bignonia family, especially C. speciosa, of the central U.S., or C. bignonioides, of the southern U.S., having opposite, sometimes whorled leaves, clusters of white flowers, and long, beanlike seed pods.

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catalpa British  

/ kəˈtælpə /

noun

1. any bignoniaceous tree of the genus Catalpa of North America and Asia, having large leaves, bell-shaped whitish flowers, and long slender pods

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Etymology

Origin of catalpa

1720–30, (< New Latin ) < Creek katałpa, equivalent to ka-, combining form of iká head + tałpa wing (apparently so called from the shape of the flower)

Example Sentences

CATALPA, in botany, a genus belonging to the family Bignoniaceae and containing about ten species in America and eastern Asia.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 5 "Cat" to "Celt" by Various