Genus of flowering plants in the family Paulowniaceae
Paulownia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
Clade:
Tracheophytes
Clade:
Angiosperms
Clade:
Eudicots
Clade:
Asterids
Order:
Lamiales
Family:
Paulowniaceae
Genus:
Paulownia Siebold & Zucc.
Species
Six to 17 species, including: Paulownia catalpifolia Paulownia elongata Paulownia fargesii Paulownia fortunei Paulownia kawakamii Paulownia taiwaniana Paulownia tomentosa
Paulownia (/pɔːˈloʊniə/paw-LOH-nee-ə) is a genus of seven to 17 species of hardwood trees (depending on taxonomic authority) in the family Paulowniaceae, the order Lamiales. The genus and family are native to east Asia and are widespread across China.[1] The genus, originally Pavlovnia but now usually spelled Paulownia, was named in honour of Anna Pavlovna, queen consort of The Netherlands (1795–1865), daughter of Tsar Paul I of Russia. It is also called "princess tree" for the same reason.[2]
It was originally sought after as an exotic ornamental tree in Europe and Asia, and later introduced to North America in 1844. Its fruits (botanically capsules) were also used as packaging material for goods shipped from East Asia to North America, leading to Paulownia groves where they were dumped near major ports. The tree has not persisted prominently in US gardens, in part due to its overwintering brown fruits that some consider ugly.[3] In some areas it has escaped cultivation and is found in disturbed plots. Some US authorities consider the genus an invasive species,[4] but in Europe, where it is also grown in gardens, it is not regarded as invasive.
Paulownia trees produce as many as 20 million tiny seeds per year. However, the seeds are very susceptible to soil biota and only colonize well on sterile soils (such as after a high temperature wildfire). Well-drained soil is also essential. Successful plantations usually purchase plants that have been professionally propagated from root cuttings or seedlings.[5] Although seeds, seedlings, and roots of even mature trees are susceptible to rot, the wood is not and is used for boat building and surfboards.
Dimensionally stable and given its straight grain and light weight, Paulownia timber is extremely easy to work with and is reported to be resistant to decay, with decent weathering.[6]
Trees can grow to maturity in under 10 years and produce strong, lightweight timber, good as firewood, with an even higher strength to weight ratio than balsa wood.[7] Its density is low at around 0.28 kilograms per liter (2.8 lb/imp gal),[8][7][9] although significantly higher than balsa's very low 0.16 kilograms per liter (1.6 lb/imp gal).[10][11]
^Cultivation of Paulownia - 3. Sexual & Asexual Propagation Archived 2021-10-27 at the Wayback Machine www.kalliergeia.com, accessed 20 May 2020
^characteristics
^ ab"Paulownia | The Wood Database - Lumber Identification (Hardwood) Common Name(s): Paulownia, Royal Paulownia, Princess Tree, Kiri". Retrieved 2019-12-20.
^Koman, Szabolcs; Feher, Sandor (1 March 2020). "Physical and mechanical properties of Paulownia clone in vitro 112". European Journal of Wood and Wood Products. 78 (2): 421–423. doi:10.1007/s00107-020-01497-x. S2CID 211028012.
^"Physical and mechanical properties of paulownia tomentosa wood planted in hungaria". ResearchGate.
Paulownia (/pɔːˈloʊniə/ paw-LOH-nee-ə) is a genus of seven to 17 species of hardwood trees (depending on taxonomic authority) in the family Paulowniaceae...
Paulownia tomentosa, common names princess tree, empress tree, or foxglove-tree, is a deciduous hardwood tree in the family Paulowniaceae, native to central...
Paulownia fortunei commonly called the dragontree, dragon tree or Fortune's empress tree, is a deciduous tree in the family Paulowniaceae, native to southeastern...
Paulownia elongata is a species of tree in the family Paulowniaceae, native to Asia. The plant's leaves are very large and pubescent ('fuzzy—hairy')....
Paulownia kawakamii, commonly known as the sapphire dragon tree, is a tree species in the family Paulowniaceae. The tree is native to Taiwan, eastern...
Paulownia coreana, also called Paulownia glabrata or Korean paulownia, is an indigenous species of South Korea. It is cultivated in South Pyongan and...
of Japan, one of the country's national seals, is the emblem (mon) of paulownia used by the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and the executive branch of the...
The Order of the Paulownia Flowers (桐花章, Tōka shō) is an order presented by the Japanese government. The award was established in 1888 during the Meiji...
Paulownia catalpifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Paulowniaceae, native to Shandong province, China, and introduced to Hungary. An...
half of the 1st Class (勲一等, Kun-ittō) was separated as the Order of the Paulownia Flowers, which was higher than the Order of the Rising Sun. Until 2003...
Eumeta variegata, commonly known as the paulownia bagworm or cotton bag worm, is a moth of the family Psychidae. The species was first described by Snellen...
Hirohito (29 April 1901 – 7 January 1989), posthumously honored as Emperor Shōwa, was the 124th emperor of Japan, reigning from 1926 until his death in...
and government of Japan: The Government Seal of Japan (also called the Paulownia Seal) The Imperial Seal of Japan (also called the Chrysanthemum Seal)...
Japanese passports. The Japanese government uses a different emblem, the Paulownia seal. During the Meiji period, no one was permitted to use the Imperial...
and Balsa. Typically, commercially sold alaia boards are made of paulownia. Paulownia is optimal for crafting surfboards in that it has a good weight to...
Paulownia Crest), a five-act play written by Namiki Gohei in 1778. The most famous act is "Sanmon Gosan no Kiri" ("The Temple Gate and the Paulownia Crest")...
Manmohan Singh (Punjabi: [mənˈmoːɦən ˈsɪ́ŋɡ] ; born 26 September 1932) is an Indian retired politician, economist, academician and bureaucrat who served...
Washburn 01 Kiritsubo (桐壺) "Kiritsubo" "The Paulownia Court" "The Paulownia Pavilion" "The Lady of the Paulownia-Courtyard Chambers" 02 Hahakigi (帚木) "The...
posthumous recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Order of the Paulownia Flowers. Among other public structures, Honolulu International Airport...
cards November* Willow Ono no Michikaze or figure with umbrella Swallow Plain tanzaku (Lightning) 1 card December* Paulownia Chinese phoenix 3 cards...
to resemble a Paulownia wooden box, an idea that originated from Itoi. In Japan, expensive sake and silverware is often sold in Paulownia boxes; the team...
the Chrysanthemum (23 February 1980) Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers (1 May 2019) Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure...
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