Catalpa
Catalpa
Known for its broad leaves and hanging seed pods, the name "Catalpa" comes from the Muskogean word meaning "winged head."
These huge leaves are great for absorbing sunlight and doing "photosynthesis" (the process that plants use to make sugar for themselves). However their size comes at a cost: larger leaves tend to lose water more quickly than smaller leaves and tend to be more vulnerable to high winds.
Didn't get this one right? Don't worry! Just like other living things, there's a lot of diversity in the plant kingdom, and even two trees of the same species can look very different from each other. Identification takes practice!