Manchester's Paulownia Trees

The large trees planted in St Peter's Square and to the side of the  Central Library (that is the Midland Hotel in the blip) are Paulownias. They are currently in flower. It is also called the Foxglove Tree - the reason is obvious.

Three interesting facts about Paulownias:

* they originate in China. They are traditionally planted by families when a girl is born. They are fast growing and mature when she does. When she is eligible for marriage the tree is cut down and carved into wooden items for her dowry.

* the seeds were used as a packing material by Chinese porcelain exporters in the 19th century. Packing cases often leaked or burst in transit, so the tree is regarded as an invasive species in Japan and the eastern USA.

* a colleague who knows about these things told me yesterday that Paulownias use the C4 method of photosynthesis and not the C3 method used by "our" trees.  Exactly.

They are an interesting choice for St Peter's Square. The C4 method makes tropical trees such as these more drought resistant. Ideal for Manchester.