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Common Trees 



TULIP TREE 



Liriodendton tulipifera, Linnaeus 



THE Tulip Tree, also called Yellow Poplar, and White- 

 wood is one of the most distinctive of American trees. 

 The leaves are simple, alternate, usually 4-lobed, 4 to 6 

 inches across, appear to have tips cut off at right angle to 



TULIP TREE 

 Leaf and flower, one-third natural size. Twig, two-thirde natural size. 



Stem, and are long-stalked. At the base of each leaf-stalk are 

 two leaf-appendages. 



The flowers are tulip-like, 1 5^ to 2 inches deep, green- 

 ish-yellow with 3 reflexed sepals and 6 petals. 



The fruit is made up of long winged nutlets arranged in 

 light brown, cone-like clusters 2j^ to 3 inches long. 



The bark when young is smooth, bitter, ash-gray to 

 brown, mottled with light blotches. On old trunks it be- 

 comes thick, brown, deeply furrowed. The twigs arc 

 smooth, shiny, stout, reddish-brown, marked with pale 

 obscure breathing pores. Complete rings of stipule-scars sur- 

 round twigs. The buds arc smooth, flattened, }i. to j/i of 

 an inch long, blunt-pointed, reddish-brown, covered with 

 one pair of bud-scales. Within buds arc small miniature 

 leaves. 



The wood is soft, not strong, light, white-yellowish to 

 brownish, works easily. It is used for furniture interior 

 finishings, woodcnware, novelties, house siding and in 

 veneering. 



The Tulip Tree is found from Rhode Island to Michigan, 

 south to Florida and Arkansas. It is common throughout 

 Ohio, being most abundant in the southeastern part of the 

 State. Deep, rich, moist soil is its favorite home. It fre- 

 quently reaches a height of 80 feet and a diameter of 5 feet. 



