The Trees of Vermont 139 



MAGNOLIACEAE 



Tulip Tree. Yellow Poplar. Wliltewood 

 LIriodendron tulipifera L. 



Habit. — A large tree 50-70 feet high, with a columnar trunk 2-3 

 feet in diameter; forming a rather open, conical crown of slender 

 branches. 



Leaves. — Alternate, simple, 5-6 inches long and broad ; 4-lobed ; 

 entire ; lustrous, dark green above, pale or glaucous beneath, turning 

 clear yellow in autumn ; petioles slender, angled, 5-6 inches long. 



Flowers. — June, after the leaves ; perfect ; terminal ; solitary on 

 stout peduncles; tulip-shaped, greenish yellow, 1^-2 inches long; 

 sepals 3, greenish, early deciduous ; petals 6, in 2 rows, greenish yellow 

 with an orange spot at the base, early deciduous ; stamens numerous, 

 somewhat shorter than the petals ; pistils numerous, clinging together 

 about a central axis ; ovary 1-celled. 



Fruit. — September-October; a narrow, light brown cone 2^-3 

 inches long, composed of numerous carpels ; carpels long, flat, with a 

 1-2-seeded nutlet at the base, separating from the slender spindle at 

 maturity. 



Winter-buds. — Terminal bud ^-1 inch long, obtuse, flattish, dark 

 red, covered with a glaucous bloom. 



Bark. — Twigs smooth, lustrous, reddish, becoming brownish, and 

 at length gray ; ashy gray, thin and scaly on young trunks, becoming 

 thick, brownish, and deeply furrowed with age. Plate VI. 



Wood. — Light, soft, brittle, weak, easily worked, Hght yellow or 

 brown, with thin, cream-white sapwood. 



Distribution. — Hoosic valley in southwestern Vermont ; rare. 



Habitat. — Prefers deep, rich, rather moist soil, but adapts itself 

 readily to any good, light soil. 



Notes. — The tulip tree is included in this list of native Vermont 

 trees, although few native trees can be pointed out. The tree was 

 reported authentically in the Appendix to Thompson's "Vermont" in 

 1853. It then occurred occasionally in Bennington county along the 

 Hoosic valley. A single native specimen of this species is reported 

 from North Pownal by Eggleston, showing that it is not yet extinct. 

 It is to be hoped that tree lovers located in that portion of Vermont will 

 learn and more fully report upon its present distribution, as this region 

 marks its northern limit as a native tree. It thrives, however, as a 

 shade tree planted in Rutland and Burlington. An attractive feature of 

 this tree is its display of tulip-like flowers which open in June. 



