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    Genus Evolution

    Evolution of the genus or Taxon:

    Due to the global warming, the Catalpa species is going to begin to spread more northwards because as the temperature is becoming warmer and there are less frost days in the North, the Catalpa are capable of surviving. However, because the Catalpa species distributes very well over North America, the actual native range is not certain.[i] As a result, without knowing the native range of the Catalpa genus the Evolution of this Taxon is hard to determine. Despite this fact it is clear why the Catalpa tree’s wood and branches are hard to decompose.[ii] The Catalpa’s wood as a result of evolution adapted to resist the insects which infest and eat the Catalpa species.[iii]  These trees often attempt to divert these insects to other already infested areas of the tree. For example, the Catalpa plant offers extra flora nectar which is very valuable for tree’s as a food source but instead the tree decided to move these extra flora nectar (which is extra sugar produced by the plant after photosynthesis) into a portion of the plant or leave that is already damaged.[iv] If the insect the non damaged part it would destroy the Catalpa tree which disrupts the process of photosynthesis or even stop photosynthesis. As a result, these extra flora nectar acts as a direct defense against herbivores and carnivores.[v] These were developed, by the Catalpa, over time for the tree to survive in the environment where they are often attacked by insects and fungi. Furthermore, the extra flora nectar is usually located in the veins of the leaves.[vi] A final point about the Catalpa evolution was where they first originated in the Mississippi Valley around 250 years ago. When the Europeans arrived to North America they realized the Catalpa was easy to plant and is good for shade. Currently humans used these seeds to plant in parks and the seed of the plants has slowly propagated around the United States.[vii]

    Since the 18 hundreds many of the North American Catalpa Species have spread all across United States, Southern tips of Ontario, and sporadically across North America, because humans began planting the Catalpa species. These trees seemed to be highly adaptive; as they were able to survive in all climate conditions. Therefore, the habitat of the Catalpa species has changed dramatically since the 18th century because they are able to adapt to acid soils, nutrient rich environment, dry environments, wet environments and poor nutrient conditions of the soil[viii]. Furthermore, the North American Catalpa species can now with stand colder conditions compared previously. After the 18th century other Catalpa species were brought from other countries such as Asia. (Catalpa Ovata) and these species also slowly escaped cultivation and made that region their home.[ix]

    Above Figure: According to this figure the DNA sampling of all the catalpa species are very similar. The most remarkable thing is that the Catalpa longissima and Catalpa macrocarpa both have matching DNA of 100/7 (see figure below). This means that those two Catalpas may actually have came from the same parent, approximately 200 years ago, but was later divided to adapt to the needs in their habitats. As a result, some scientist may classify these two trees as a different family than the Catalpas called the Macrocatalpa tree. The North America Catalpa trees are also from the same family because the Catalpa speciosa and Catalpa bignonioides both have the same DNA sample (100/5). This figure could determine that the North America Catalpa species came to Canada and then both species evolved to adapt to the cold and ph level of the soil in North America.

    Above Figure: According to this figure the DNA sampling of all the catalpa species are very similar. The most remarkable thing is that the Catalpa longissima and Catalpa macrocarpa both have matching DNA of 100/7 (see figure below). This means that those two Catalpas may actually have came from the same parent, approximately 200 years ago, but was later divided to adapt to the needs in their habitats. As a result, some scientist may classify these two trees as a different family than the Catalpas called the Macrocatalpa tree. The North America Catalpa trees are also from the same family because the Catalpa speciosa and Catalpa bignonioides both have the same DNA sample (100/5). This figure could determine that the North America Catalpa species came to Canada and then both species evolved to adapt to the cold and ph level of the soil in North America.

     

    Refer to Fig above/Below: The Catalpa species came from the same parent, because the DNA samples were very similar. (See Table 1 below the images is retrieved from Jianhua’s article). There are similar figures in both tables. The first step to unravel the origin and evolution of the Catalpa Species, is to refer to another species called Chilopsis linearis who’s DNA samples are very similar to all the Catalpa species. By, using this data it is safe to conclude that the Catalpa genus may have been a direct descendent of the Chilopsis linearis tree. By looking at the bigger picture of the DNA samples shows the DNA seemed to lead to is the Oroxylum Indicum. That was where the Catalpa species probably descended from. With these data we were able to determine with the these trees that the Catalpa genus descended from Jacaranda Sparrei to Podranea ricasolian, Eccremocarpus scaber, Oroxylum indicum, Chilopsis linearis and then the Catalpa. However, these trees are still alive. According to Jianhua Li she believed that based on the chart the Catalpa is related to all the species listed in the image bellow. Jianhua continued to discuss that the Catalpa genus earliest parent could probably been a fungi shown in her DNA sampling research. All the trees listed in the figure bellow shows the Catalpa closely related sisters. With this DNA sampling Jianhua Li was able to explain that the species is that the Macro-catalpa may be be the parent family of the Catalpa species because the graph above shows the link above all other Catalpa species.

    Refer to Fig above/Below: The Catalpa species came from the same parent, because the DNA samples were very similar. (See Table 1 below the images is retrieved from Jianhua’s article). There are similar figures in both tables. The first step to unravel the origin and evolution of the Catalpa Species, is to refer to another species called Chilopsis linearis who’s DNA samples are very similar to all the Catalpa species. By, using this data it is safe to conclude that the Catalpa genus may have been a direct descendent of the Chilopsis linearis tree. By looking at the bigger picture of the DNA samples shows the DNA seemed to lead to is the Oroxylum Indicum. That was where the Catalpa species probably descended from. With these data we were able to determine with the these trees that the Catalpa genus descended from Jacaranda Sparrei to Podranea ricasolian, Eccremocarpus scaber, Oroxylum indicum, Chilopsis linearis and then the Catalpa. However, these trees are still alive. According to Jianhua Li she believed that based on the chart the Catalpa is related to all the species listed in the image bellow. Jianhua continued to discuss that the Catalpa genus earliest parent could probably been a fungi shown in her DNA sampling research. All the trees listed in the figure bellow shows the Catalpa closely related sisters. With this DNA sampling Jianhua Li was able to explain that the species is that the Macro-catalpa may be be the parent family of the Catalpa species because the graph above shows the link above all other Catalpa species.

    See Figure Below: The evolution of the Catalpa Genus still is a mystery, dating back to the beginning of life forms on earth. According to Li, she believed that more studies are needed to concluded weather all the Catalpa in the Caribbean, North America and Asia have the same original habitat. It is important to understand the evolution of the plant family. This is important because Catalpa’s should have a very similar evolutionary pattern just because it is a tree. The plants, like animals, began with a single organism like moss, fungi and then developed into a more complex form of organisms until it developed into a tree . These trees later evolved to develop to adapt to the environment such as the Catalpa species having large leaves to cause rapid water evaporation because in a tropical environment there is abundant moisture.

    See Figure Above: The evolution of the Catalpa Genus still is a mystery, dating back to the beginning of life forms on earth. According to Li, she believed that more studies are needed to concluded weather all the Catalpa in the Caribbean, North America and Asia have the same original habitat. It is important to understand the evolution of the plant family. This is important because Catalpa’s should have a very similar evolutionary pattern just because it is a tree. The plants, like animals, began with a single organism like moss, fungi and then developed into a more complex form of organisms until it developed into a tree . These trees later evolved to develop to adapt to the environment such as the Catalpa species having large leaves to cause rapid water evaporation because in a tropical environment there is abundant moisture.

    Original copy found in: http://tellapallet.com/TreeOfLife.pdf (Note: the image have been resized and cut to fit this page.)

    Original copy found in: http://tellapallet.com/TreeOfLife.pdf (Note: the image have been resized and cut to fit this page.)

    Tree of Life 1

    The Catalpa species research has been neglected over the years and as a result, there are limited sources that could be found on the evolution of the Catalpa genus. Even the Cladogram of the Catalpa genus is incomplete and hard to find. However, there is DNA sampling done with the Catalpa Genus to determine whether all these species are interrelated (see above Figure above and below).

    [i] Sweeney S. 2005. Catalpa: Great American and invaders. The Monday Garden 162 (2): 40 –51.

    [ii]             . 1997. Catalpa Spp. [Internet] [Cited 2008, October 25] Available from. http://www.windsorplywood.com/nam_hardwoods/catalpa.html.

    [iii] Ryder J A. 1978. Honey glands on Catalpa leaves [Internet] [Cited 2008 October 28] 31 (2). 161 Available on http://www.jstor.org/stable/4060301

    [iv] Stephenson A G. 1982. The role of Extrafloral Nectaries of Catalpa Speciosa in limiting herbivores and increasing fruit production [Internet]. [Cited 2008, October 25, 2008] (63) 3. 663-669. Available from http://www.jstor.org/stable/1936786?&Search=yes&term=Catalpa&list=hide&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3DCatalpa%26wc%3Don%26dc%3DAll%2BDisciplines&item=1&ttl=1770&returnArticleService=showArticle.

    [v] Stephenson A G. 1982. The role of Extrafloral Nectaries of Catalpa Speciosa in limiting herbivores and increasing fruit production [Internet]. [Cited 2008, October 25, 2008] (63) 3. 663-669. Available from http://www.jstor.org/stable/1936786?&Search=yes&term=Catalpa&list=hide&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3DCatalpa%26wc%3Don%26dc%3DAll%2BDisciplines&item=1&ttl=1770&returnArticleService=showArticle.

    [vi] Stephenson A G. 1982. The role of Extrafloral Nectaries of Catalpa Speciosa in limiting herbivores and increasing fruit production [Internet]. [Cited 2008, October 25, 2008] (63) 3. 663-669. Available from http://www.jstor.org/stable/1936786?&Search=yes&term=Catalpa&list=hide&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3DCatalpa%26wc%3Don%26dc%3DAll%2BDisciplines&item=1&ttl=1770&returnArticleService=showArticle.

    [vii] ______. Nature`s Hill Nursey. 2008. Southern Catalpa [Înternet] [Cited 2008, October 23, 2008] Available from. http://www.naturehills.com/product/southern_catalpa.aspx.

    [viii] _____. Nature`s Hill Nursey. 2008. Southern Catalpa [Înternet] [Cited 2008, October 23, 2008] Available from. http://www.naturehills.com/product/southern_catalpa.aspx

    [ix] ____. Nature`s Hill Nursey. 2008. Southern Catalpa [Înternet] [Cited 2008, October 23, 2008] Available from. http://www.naturehills.com/product/southern_catalpa.aspx