Bignoniaceae

The limits of Bignoniaceae have long been somewhat controversial. Especially the placement of the genus Paulownia was critical. It has been accommodated in Scrophulariaceae (Lambinon & al. 2004), Bignoniaceae (Mill 2000) or in a family of its own, Paulowniaceae. Recent taxonomic insights (APG III 2009, Olmstead & al. 2009) invariably adopt the latter alternative. This taxonomy is followed here as well.

• Stems twining. Leaves pinnate, opposite. Corolla orange or reddish. Fertile stamens 4 (2 long and 2 short) === Campsis
• Stem erect (tree). Leaves entire or lobed, never pinnate, in whorls of three or opposite. Corolla whitish or yellowish (ground colour), usually spotted. Fertile stamens 2 === Catalpa

APG III (2009) An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants. APG III. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 161(2): 105-121.

Lambinon J., Delvosalle L., Duvigneaud J. (avec coll. Geerinck D., Lebeau J., Schumacker R. & Vannerom H.) (2004) Nouvelle Flore de la Belgique, du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, du Nord de la France et des Régions voisines (Ptéridophytes et Spermatophytes). Cinquième édition. Jardin botanique national de Belgique, Meise: CXXX + 1167 p.

Manning S.D. (2000) The genera of Bignoniaceae in the southeastern United States. Harvard Pap. Bot. 5(1): 1-77.

Mill R.R. (2000) Paulownia. In: Cullen J. & al. (eds.), The European Garden Flora, vol. 6. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 344-345.

Olmstead R.G., Zjhra M.L., Lohmann L.G., Grose S.O. & Eckert A.J. (2009) A molecular phylogeny and classification of Bignoniaceae. Am. J. Bot. 96(9): 1731-1743. [available online at: http://www.amjbot.org/content/96/9/1731.full.pdf+html]