Whats a good site to help me identify a tree?

I have a huge leaf it feels like velvet and some dried up seed pods that look some what like a cluster of walnuts (but not). I live in western New York and i know this tree gets purple flowers in the spring. I'm looking for a good site to help me identify the tree

Whats a good site to help me identify a tree?
Your description of a tree with purple flowers in spring, huge velvety leaves %26amp; clusters of capsules that look like walnuts sounds like the Princess tree, also known as Royal Paulownia or Royal Empress Tree.

Take a look:

http://daviswiki.org/Empress_Tree

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/im...

http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/pat...

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/pat...

http://www.hsu.edu/default.aspx?id=6401



Site identifying other purple-flowering trees:

http://www.virtualplanttags.com/PurpleFl...



Good luck! Hope this is helpful.
Reply:Search for "identifying trees" for some help.
Reply:Hmmm....I live in the southwest which is a long ways from New York. However the resource site below has some pictures and descriptions of trees that do well in the Southwest and Northwest....Check it out.
Reply:Sounds like you have a Royal Empress tree. They are a very fast growing tree, and can reach about 40 feet.
Reply:You can bring the leaf to your local nursery. They can help you identify the variety.
Reply:What tree is that?

http://www.arborday.org/trees/treeID.cfm

http://www.oplin.org/tree/

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvic...



Database for trees. Search for species by State, Province, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Floristic Region (Biome)

http://www.cnr.vt.edu/DENDRO/DENDROLOGY/...



tree keys

http://www.clemson.edu/extfor/publicatio...

http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/...



NY

http://www.buffalogardens.com/

http://www.bbg.org/sci/taxonomy/

http://www.treesny.com/

http://www.syracuseuniversitypress.syr.e...

http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/5248.html



Leaf guides

http://www.maurycountylibrary.org/leaf_i...

http://www.mbgnet.net/

http://www.inspire.net/trees/leaf/byleaf...

http://www2.volstate.edu/JSchibig/tree%2...

http://www.realtimerendering.com/trees/t...