Selected Trees and Shrubs
Catalpa longissima, Common name: Haitian Catalpa, French Oak, Jamaican Oak, Yokewood
Plant Family: Belongs to the Bignoniaceae or Bignonia family, a primarily tropical family which includes the Sausage Tree (Kigelia africana), African Tulip (Spathodea campanulata), and the spectacular Pouis - Pink Poui (Tabebuia rosea) and Yellow Poui (Tabebuia spectabilis).
Description: Located adjacent to Forestry office, east of Gardens main road; tall, graceful, hard-wooded tree, up to 25-30 m tall (80-100 ft), fissured, light grey bark; leaves simple, opposite, oval, tips pointed, 7-14 cm long (3-5 in), 2-5 cm wide (1-2 in); flowers white to light lilac, with purple and yellow lines inside floral tube, 25-30 mm long (about 1 in) and 30-34 mm across (about 1 in), in small, panicle inflorescences; fruit a very long, slender, almost thread-like capsule, 35-75 cm long (14-29 in), 4 mm broad (about 0.2 in), and round in cross section; flowering and fruiting throughout year.
Natural Habitat: Thrives best on well-drained, gravelly soils of tropics, at elevations up to 300 m (1000 ft); propagation by seed.
Origin and Distribution: Native to Hispaniola and some of the other islands of the West Indies; now naturalized in Dominica; introduced to the Pacific region.
Uses: Both as ornamental, for its graceful habit, and for fine timber; in Jamaica, regarded as one of the best timber woods; in West Indies, the hard wood used for boards and planks, and for furniture, floors and construction.
References:
Anon. Official Guide to the Botanic Gardens, Dominica. Kew Gardens, London 1924?
C.D. Adams. Flowering Plants of Jamaica. University of the West Indies, Mona, Glasgow University Press 1972
Gerald D. Carr. Manoa Campus Plants, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 2005 (botany.hawaii.ed)
Robert A. De Filipps. Useful Plants of the Commonwealth of Dominica, West Indies. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 1998
Description: Located adjacent to Forestry office, east of Gardens main road; tall, graceful, hard-wooded tree, up to 25-30 m tall (80-100 ft), fissured, light grey bark; leaves simple, opposite, oval, tips pointed, 7-14 cm long (3-5 in), 2-5 cm wide (1-2 in); flowers white to light lilac, with purple and yellow lines inside floral tube, 25-30 mm long (about 1 in) and 30-34 mm across (about 1 in), in small, panicle inflorescences; fruit a very long, slender, almost thread-like capsule, 35-75 cm long (14-29 in), 4 mm broad (about 0.2 in), and round in cross section; flowering and fruiting throughout year.
Natural Habitat: Thrives best on well-drained, gravelly soils of tropics, at elevations up to 300 m (1000 ft); propagation by seed.
Origin and Distribution: Native to Hispaniola and some of the other islands of the West Indies; now naturalized in Dominica; introduced to the Pacific region.
Uses: Both as ornamental, for its graceful habit, and for fine timber; in Jamaica, regarded as one of the best timber woods; in West Indies, the hard wood used for boards and planks, and for furniture, floors and construction.
References:
Anon. Official Guide to the Botanic Gardens, Dominica. Kew Gardens, London 1924?
C.D. Adams. Flowering Plants of Jamaica. University of the West Indies, Mona, Glasgow University Press 1972
Gerald D. Carr. Manoa Campus Plants, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 2005 (botany.hawaii.ed)
Robert A. De Filipps. Useful Plants of the Commonwealth of Dominica, West Indies. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 1998
