What is this tree near the Patapsco River?

mmix

I am curious about this tree we found while hiking to the Liberty Dam on the Patapsco State Park in Maryland. I did try googling Maryland trees and shrubs, but no match. The photos show leaves and fruit. Photo taken 8/8/2010
Thanks,
Marilyn

mmix

Not sure the photo attachments got included in my original post

Attached Thumbnails

   

mmix

I think it is a Royal Paulownia, and invasive exotic orIginally from China.

metzler

deffinately a catalpa

treeshaveneeds

I agree the leaves look promising, but the fruit is not that of catalpa.
Leaves also look a bit like redbud, but again wrong kind of fruit.

Need Julie's help here.

Eden Keeper

Paulownia tomentosa is correct. (This is the third or forth different request (twice by hikers) for identification of this species I've seen looking back from Dec. 2010 to Aug. 2010.) Redbud has alternate leaves and bean pods, while catalpa (also called cigar-bean) has much longer pods and white rather than purple lilac/phlox scented flowers. Where I'm from most people mistakenly call it cottonwood since the pod looks somewhat like a cotton boll, and between the local dialect/accent, some mishearing/misremembering, and rhyming, a few guys are now calling it bologna tree.

Since it is an invasive exotic (mostly just in disturbed areas) cut it down now so millions more seed are not produced next year. It will quickly grow back especially if in full sun, but a year old sucker can then be cut annually and made into a great hiking stave.