paulownia
桐 refers specifically to the paulownia tree, a fast-growing hardwood tree valued for its lightweight timber and ornamental flowers.
桐 combines 木 (tree) with 同, which likely contributes the sound. The character was created to name the paulownia tree.
The tree 木 that shares the same 同 name as the paulownia: 桐 is the paulownia tree.
For トウ, imagine a tall paulownia tree casting a long shadow like a toe: toe -> トウ, and the tree's shadow stretches out.
paulownia (Paulownia tomentosa); empress tree; foxglove tree
Osaka Tōin Junior and Senior High School (abbr)
Chinese parasol-tree (Firmiana simplex); Chinese-bottletree; Japanese varnishtree; phoenix-tree
Toho Gakuen School of Music
paulownia crest (three leaves with seven blossoms on the center lead and five blossoms on each side leaf)
scoring combination consisting of the January, December, and August 20-point cards
falling paulownia leaf signaling the beginning of autumn (fall)
tōso; paste made from paulownia sawdust and wheat starch (used in traditional doll-making, etc.)
court ladies' residence (in the inner Heian Palace)
Toho Gakuen Graduate School
Tōhō Gakuen College of Drama and Music
paulownia wood
tung oil; (Chinese) wood oil
Kiryu University
Kiryū Junior College
field of paulownia trees
box made of paulownia wood; paulownia box
paulownia crest
Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers
Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers