What do the catalpha seed look like?????

I have some long catalpha seed pods. Here are my questions:

1) do you let the pods completely dry ON the tree before collecting them if you want the seed?

2) when you open the pod you have this long, hard thing with ridges. Are the seed inside that? Are they round or long and flat?

thanks for any help (once again !)

I let mine ripen on the tree. They will split themselves open if you wait long enough. If you take them off,
be sure the pods are very dry and even begin to curl sometimes at the base. The seeds look like
small, slightly flattened beans. If they are fresh, they germinate quickly. I've had fresh up in as little as a week.

Do you have more than one Catalpa tree? Do they need a male and female to germinate? The reason I ask is that there is a pretty old one in our town. The only one that I know of. And the lady who has it says the seeds will not germinate. She says they are sterile. If you have some that will germinate, may I buy some from you? Appreciate it. Thanks,

Jeanette

Sorry Jeanette, I'd love to help you out, but my DH cut it down last summer to make way for a grape arbor. Her tree is not sterile, it is a bisexual flower. But the plant
times the pollen and the egg so that it does not self pollinate itself. If you can gather some pollen from it and wait for the 'egg' part (you'll brush pollen from anthers onto stamen) to be ready-you can get seedpods off of your friends.
Here's a link, scroll down a bit and look to right-they will show you photos of the flowers. http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/pages/pollination.htm
This link shows basic flower descriptions so you know which part is which: http://6plants.blogspot.com/
I sure hope you succeed, sorry I can't be more help.

Those are very interesting. But, remembered seeing one of the seed companies has them for sale so I think I will try to get them there just for kicks. I will pass your info on to the lady who has the tree now tho. Thanks.

Jeanette; I drive past several catalpa trees along the road to town, also in the timber where I go mushrooming I see lots of the pods. I can see about gathering some. Will let you know in a couple days or so. I think I saw one new tree there, so they should have some that are fertile.
Don't plan to go to town again for another week but I may get my bike out and pick up a bunch of those pop & beer cans up that way. Hey a nickle a piece and they are just laying there for the taking. Let you know.
Russ

Thanks Russ. Hey, what kind of mushrooms do you get? Bout the only thing we get around here are Morels. They are ok, but I do prefer the Chantrels myself. So good.

Morels, some times later in the season the shelf fungus on old elms, a little more substantial and kind of meaty texture. takes on flavor well.

Jeanette;
No luck on the catalpa pods but I picked up 35 cans and bottles on that trip. Not high pay but getting paid for good exercise isn't bad.. Need a bigger bicycle so I can carry a bigger bag. lol

Russ, for some reason my darned computer drops my posts. What I said was, That maybe I will start sending my beer cans etc. to you. LOL, Deduct the postage and you/we might make a penny a can.

Don't worry aabout the Catalpa seeds. thanks, Jeanette

Sounds about as profitable as a 3% raise and a 5% premium increase. lol

LOL, you too?